M A I N   N E W S

Delhi treads carefully
Rajeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25
India today downplayed the June 26 transgression of the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh by Chinese troops despite an acidic reaction from the Chinese Foreign Office as External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told the Lok Sabha that “such isolated incidents can occur sporadically”.

“Tread carefully with China” seems to be the South Block mantra. Similar indications emanated from South Block as a senior official allayed fears of a downswing in Sino-Indian relations because of the latest incursions by the Chinese and stressed that the incident would not affect the two countries’ resolve to improve bilateral relations.

Well placed sources said the Vajpayee government was not unduly perturbed over the June 26 Chinese incursions though it and lodged a protest with Beijing through diplomatic channels as stipulated under Article 6 (4) of Peace and Tranquility Agreement between the two countries. This agreement has stipulated the parameters to be followed by the two countries in situations like the June 26 Chinese incursions.

It is understood that the Vajpayee government does not want to be seen to be exhibiting kneejerk reaction to the incident and even a telephonic conversation between the two countries’ Special Representatives for resolving the border dispute is not on the cards.

“With China you have to tread carefully. You cannot have hotline diplomacy with them,” remarked an official when asked whether the Indian Special Representative, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, would be speaking to his Chinese counterpart.

“They are Special Representatives. Their task is mainly political in nature. They are not Line Commanders,” the official said adding that the “mandate, parameters and scope” of the talks between the two Special Representatives were yet to be finalised.

The atmosphere between New Delhi and Beijing was further vitiated today by a strongly-worded statement from the Chinese Foreign Office spokesman that “China does not recognise the so-called Arunachal Pradesh”.

The Indian Foreign Office spokesman’s reaction to the Chinese reaction was terse. “Our position has been made clear in our statement yesterday,” the spokesman said.

Mr Yashwant Sinha said the government had taken up the issue of Chinese “transgression” through diplomatic channels with Beijing and their response was awaited.

“The government is aware of the transgression of the LAC by a Chinese patrol on June 26, 2003, in the Asaphila area of the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh,” Mr Sinha said when members, including Congress Deputy Leader Shivraj Patil, his colleague J S Brar and Ramji Lal Suman and C.N.Singh (both Samajwadi Party) raised the issue during Zero Hour.

The Minister admitted that “this is an area where there are differences in the perception of the LAC between the two sides.”

Significantly, the Minister remarked that the accepted policy of face-to-face contact, stipulated in the Sino-Indian agreement of 1996, had not been observed by that country.

Mr Sinha’s brief statement came soon after Question Hour during which Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi rejected an adjournment motion on the issue.