China disregards bilateral agreements: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that China does not recognise the traditional customary alignment of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and that the recent conduct of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reflects a disregard of bilateral agreements between two sides. The Defence Minister made this remark in Rajya Sabha on Thursday while talking about India- China tensions.

Mr.Singh also said that India’s timely actions had foiled the attempts to change the status quo in Pangong Tso.

“I would like to assure Parliament that India will not step back from taking any harsh decision and that our forces are in a better position to retaliate,” Rajnath Singh said adding that China has built up war machines and troops near LAC.

During his address, Singh also said that China continues to illegally occupy a large area of Ladakh. “China continues to be in illegal occupation of approx 38,000 sq. kms in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km. of Indian territory in PoK to China. China also claims approximately 90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese actions reflect a disregard of our various bilateral agreements,” Singh said.