Indian and Chinese defence ministers meeting in Moscow converged on both sides. Explore the peace option albeit the People’s Liberation Army has beefed up its positions south of Pangong Tso.
According to diplomats Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe both held their positions. Singh is en-route to Delhi via Tehran.
While China’s General Wei wrote down all the points raised by Singh during the two and a half-hour meeting. He even pointed out that the Indian media is very negative.
However Singh expressed his helplessness in controlling the Indian media saying that the media is totally free.
“Causes and truth of the current tension on the China-India border are clear, and the responsibility entirely lies with India. China cannot lose an inch of its territory, and its armed forces are fully determined, capable and confident in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese said in their statement.
China also called on India to “earnestly implement important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and insist on resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation”
The Defence Ministry responded “determined to protect (its) sovereignty and territorial integrity”, but urged China against further escalation and said it was keen for China to “work with the Indian side for complete disengagement at the earliest…”
“The two sides should continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC at the earliest,” the ministry said.