India slams China for its new border law; says maintain status quo along LAC

By Anish Kumar | First Published Oct 27, 2021, 5:41 PM IST

Such a unilateral move 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, India's External Affairs Ministry said.

India on Wednesday reacted strongly to the new boundary law passed by China on October 23 and said that a unilateral decision to bring about the legislation can have implications on mutually-agreed agreements on border management between the two countries.

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The ministry reiterated that India expects that China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of the law which could unilaterally alter the situation in the India-China border areas. He also said that the new law does not -- in New Delhi's view -- confer any legitimacy to the so-called China Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963. India sees the China Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 as an illegal and invalid pact.

The law was passed amidst the strained ties between the two countries at several locations on the 3488-km-long boundary. China shares boundaries with 14 countries which overall covers 22,100 km of landmass. The new law enacted would become operational from January 1 next year.

The new law has been passed at a time when the Chinese are concerned about the security on its front with Taliban-governed Afghanistan and the ongoing border standoff with India in eastern Ladakh, which has now been completed for 18 months. Indian and Chinese People's Liberation Army troops even had a violent skirmish last year in which the Indian side suffered 20 casualties while the latter admitted to just four deaths.

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As per the new law, China's PLA will be allowed to oppose any "encroachment, invasion, provocation or infiltration" that happens along any of the country's borders and provides a legal endorsement to hard border closures if Beijing sees fit. The new law enables the PLA to work closely with people living along border areas and use them as the first line of defence. There is also a provision to undertake the massive improvement of public services and infrastructure in such areas.

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