New Delhi: After decades, China has once again accused India of pursuing the “forward policy” in its border dispute with India.
China had justified its hostilities on the border with India in 1962 with a similar accusation.
India’s forward policy is the “root cause of tension” in the China-India border situation, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on being asked to respond to reports about the Indian Army moving some of its latest US-acquired military hardware to the Line of Actual Control. Interestingly, the question was asked by the Beijing correspondent of Tass, a Russian news agency.
According to Indian military historians, China in fact carried out forward policy before the 1962 war by venturing into Indian territory to ambush Indian patrols.
The spokesperson said China opposed any arms race in the disputed border areas for the purpose of competition over control. “We have always been firm in safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and security, and committed to peace and stability in the China-India border areas,” she added.