Imperative for Indian troops to pull back for any meaningful dialogue: China

BIEJING: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that is imperative for Indian troops to pull back to the India side of the border before any meaningful dialogue can take place between China and India.

“It is imperative that the Indian troops pull back to the Indian side of the boundary. That is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India.”

Earlier, China accused Indian border guards of crossing into its territory from the state of Sikkim on India's northeastern border with Tibet.

“The cause of the current situation is Indian border troops' violation of the two countries' consensus on the delimitation of the boundary and illegal entry into the Chinese territory,” said the ministry’s spokesman.

He added that China and India keep an open line of diplomatic communication and the cause of the current situation is the illegal entry of Indian border troops who crossed the defined boundary recognized by the Indian government.

“It was the Indian side who trespassed on the Chinese territory and obstructed China's normal construction.”

“The pressing task now is for the Indian side to bring those who trespassed on the Chinese territory back to the Indian side of the boundary,” further said the foreign affairs spokesperson.

Ties between China and India have long been frosty as a result of long-term territorial disputes, as well as Beijing's support of Pakistan, and Indian leaders declined to attend China's "Belt and Road" summit aimed at boosting regional economic and political ties last month.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month that the two countries should work to "appropriately" manage their differences.