India rejects China’s claim of sovereignty over Galwan valley

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lijian Zhao on Wednesday had said that the Galwan Valley has always been a part of China and that Indian border forces violated Chinese border protocols.

Galwan valley is the site of a violent clash between the Indian and Chinese army.

India trashed China’s claim as “exaggerated” and “untenable” and said that it acted contrary to the understanding reached during a high-level military dialogue on June 6.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava referred to an agreement reached between Chinese and Indian militaries on “disengagement” during the Lt General-level talks on June 6, in response to the claim by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) .

He said “As we have conveyed earlier today, External Affairs Minister and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China had a phone conversation on recent developments in Ladakh”.

He added that both sides agreed to handle the overall situation in a responsible manner and that the outcomes of June 6 Military Commander meeting should be implemented sincerely.

“Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding” Mr. Srivastava said.

Since the clashes in Nathu La in 1967 when India lost around 80 soldiers and China lost over 300 PLA personnel , the violent clashes at the Galwan Valley was the biggest confrontation along the Line of Actual Control between the two forces.