China has no locus standi to comment: MEA on China’s remark

India reacted in a terse way to China’s illegality remarks Iand said that China has no locus standi to comment on our country’s internal matter.

After the opening of 44 bridges in border areas by Defence minister Rajnath Singh, China reacted with its negative comments. On the other hand, the MEA was reacting to China’s remark that its spokesperson made on Ladakh.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson had said, “China does not recognise the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by the Indian side and the Arunachal Pradesh. We stand against the development of infrastructure facilities aimed at military contention along the border area.”

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a strongly-worded response said, “The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh have been, are, and will remain an integral part of India. China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters.”

Firmly trying to put China in its own place, the spokesperson said “We hope that countries will not comment on India’s internal matters, as much as they expect the same of others.”

He further said, “Our position on Arunachal Pradesh has also been made clear several times. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. This fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level.”

Beijing’s statement came in the wake of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opening a series of new bridges in border areas. China has renewed war of words with remarks on Ladakh even as attempts are underway to defuse military tension at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
Seventh round of commander-level talks was held on October 12 which the Indian side said were “positive and constructive”. Military tension has eased at the LAC in recent weeks but talks are underway for disengagement.

Disengagement is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC.

“To achieve this, the two sides will maintain the current momentum of communications based on the guidance of our leadership to not to turn differences into disputes and work towards a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement in all the friction areas along the Line of Actual Control and restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas,” the MEA said.