Beijing, Jan 3 (UNI) China on Wednesday said it has no knowledge about a report that its troops "intruded" into the Indian side of the border in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh last month.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang's remarks came after a media report said that Chinese troops intruded into Arunachal Pradesh for about 200 metres close to a village in upper Siang district.
"First of all, on the border issue, our position is clear and consistent. We never acknowledged the existence of so-called Arunachal Pradesh," Geng Shuang told a media briefing. "For the specific situation you mentioned, I am not aware of it," he said.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of South Tibet. Of the 3,488 km-long border that India shares with China, 1,126 falls in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the report, Chinese troops who crossed over into Arunchal Pradesh with construction machinery last month were stopped by Indian soldiers. The Chinese troops reportedly left the construction equipment behind.
"I want to mention that between China and India, there is a well-developed mechanism for border-related affairs. Through this mechanism, China and India could manage the border affairs. Maintaining peace and stability at the border suits both China and India," he said.
Asked whether there was another stand-off between the two countries, similar to the one in Doklam last year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the "standoff which happened last year has been resolved properly".
UNi XC-SNU 1745