The ministry of external affairs on Wednesday provided the Indian government's response to a new 'land boundary law' announced by China late last week. The law affirms China's commitment to protect its border regions and improve infrastructure as well as reorganise districts in such areas.
The MEA emphasised India and China had "still not resolved" their boundary dispute. The MEA stated "China’s unilateral decision to bring about a legislation, which can have implication on our existing bilateral arrangements on border management as well as on the boundary question, is of concern to us".
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The MEA pointed out the new law will have "no bearing on the arrangements that both sides have already reached earlier, whether it is on the boundary question or for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC in India-China border areas".
The MEA emphasised that India expected "China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of this law, which could unilaterally alter the situation in the India-China border areas." The MEA also pointed out the passage of the new Chinese law "does not in our view confer any legitimacy to the so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963, which Government of India has consistently maintained is an illegal and invalid agreement".
