British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on India and China to engage in dialogue to sort out their border issues as he described the escalation in eastern Ladakh as “a very serious and worrying situation”, which the UK is closely monitoring.
The first official statement of Mr Johnson came during his weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Responding to Conservative Party MP Flick Drummond on the implications for British interests of a dispute between a “Commonwealth member and the world's largest democracy on the one side, and a state that challenges our notion of democracy on the other,” he described the escalation in eastern Ladakh as “a very serious and worrying situation.”
Johnson has called on Beijing and Delhi to engage in dialogue to resolve the border issue between them. Johnson’s remarks come days after a clash between troops of both the nations on June 15, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and the Chinese side reported 43 casualties.
In a statement in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and China have agreed that expeditious implementation of the previously agreed understanding on disengagement of troops from standoff points in eastern Ladakh would help ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
During the diplomatic talks between India and China, the situation in the region was discussed in detail and the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15. The talks were held amid escalating tension between the two countries following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15.
The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.
"India is trying to match China's military assets in the region. The Chinese have ingressed disputed areas where both sides are trying to manoeuvre the situation to their advantage,'' Rahul Bedi, a defence analyst was quoted in an AP report. Indian officials also said that Chinese troops had violated border management and jointly agreed patrolling protocols by advancing personnel at the Depsang Plains.
With PTI inputs
