China transgressed 415 times into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2017, the Indian Express reported on Wednesday. 2017 also marks the year where both India and China were involved in a 73-day faceoff at Dokalam on the Sikkim-Bhutan border.
According to the report, China transgressed into the LAC 271 times in 2016, which means the increase in transgressions in the one-year period rose by 144.
There are 23 major areas of dispute on the LAC identified by the Indian side, where most Chinese transgressions take place and faceoffs occur. These include Demchok, Chumar, Pangong Tso and Spanggur Gap in Ladakh, Kaurik in Himachal Pradesh, Barahoti in Uttarakhand, and Namkha Chu, Sumdorong Chu, Asaphila and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s Consul General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu, however, told news agency ANI that China had a good working relationship with India. The statement came after he was questioned about the country’s close proximity to Pakistan, and the stand it has taken following US President Donald Trump’s statement about that country, and the subsequent halting of military aid. “It is simplistic to say that China is supporting Pakistan. I would say that China has good relationship with Pakistan as we do with many other countries, including India. Right now we have good relationship with India,” he said.
In December 2017, an Indian drone crossed over into Chinese airspace, which was taken up by the authorities across the border.
The UAV was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory when it lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Sikkim Sector.
Beijing accused India of violating its air space and infringing upon its territorial sovereignty. Beijing also said that the ‘incident’ that could cause further friction along the two countries’ disputed border.
“This action by India violated China’s territorial sovereignty. We express strong dissatisfaction and opposition,” said Zhang Shuili, a senior military official in China’s western battle zone command, according to a Defence Ministry statement.
“China’s border defence forces took a professional and responsible attitude in conducting an inspection of the device,” Zhang said, adding that the military would resolutely defend national sovereignty and security.