China's claim over Indian territory is illegal, says Ex-Affairs Minister

China’s claim on approx 90,000 sq km of Indian territory comprising Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh was illegal, categorically said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday reiterating Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India.

Pranab Mukherjee was pointing government’s stand on the issue of China’s claim over the state in an attempt to avert any trouble in the Parliament over the issue.

Mukherjee stated in the Lok Sabha in a written reply that China disputes the international boundary with India. However, he did not make out more on the developments taking place in this part.

The two governments-India and China have agreed since 1993 to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the Indo-China border and would not encroach into each other territory.

The External Affairs Minister also said that both sides have agreed to make clear the LAC and to take up the confronted issue through established mechanisms comprising the Joint Working Group, the Expert Group, Border Personnel Meeting, Flag Meetings and diplomatic channels.

The Foreign Minister emphasized the recent China visit by a number of delegates headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said the two Prime Ministers have acknowledged the progress made by the two Special Representatives in seeking a common framework for the settlement of boundary disputes was satisfactory, fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable.

The mutual procedures seeking in the direction of obtaining pragmatic solution to border dispute is based on the agreement on Guiding Principles and Political Parameters signed three years ago in April 2005.

BJP stand

Earlier on Feb 25 the chief Opposition party, BJP advised the Centre to lodge a strong protest with Beijing over China's stand on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's last month's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

BJP president Rajnath Singh said the Chinese remark was very unfortunate. The government should strongly protest it.

China’s Remark

Following the Prime minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh soon after returning from the high-profile official tour to China, and calling the state as an “integral part of India” and no compromise, could be made on the territorial integrity of the state and tolerated at any cost, the China reacted furiously.

China conveyed to India that it was not proper to make such comments at a time when two countries were engaged in serious talks over the boundary question.

Birth of the disagreement

The disagreement started with Manmohan Singh’s two-day maiden visit to Arunachal Pradesh on January 31 of this year. PM called it a developmental visit in one of the state of undivided India.

Addressing the people of the state he said, “the sun kisses India first in Arunachal Pradesh and it is our land of the rising sun.”

The statement was loud and clear to China when Manmohan Singh said, “It is my sincere hope that like the sun, Arunachal Pradesh will also rise from the east as a new star and become one of the best regions of our country.”

The message though was veiled, but strong to China. After which the China’s protest came over the Prime Minister’s visit and statement issued in public there and said it was not proper to make such comment when the two countries were engaged to resolve their decades-old boundary dispute.