BEIJING, April 9 - China today asked India to respect the Line of Actual Control and refrain from �hyping up� the boundary issue and work with it to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry�s remarks came in response to a report that China has lodged a strong protest with New Delhi, alleging �transgression� by the Indian troops in the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian side has dismissed Beijing�s complaint.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang skirted a direct response to the report and said, � I do not understand the specific state of affairs that you mentioned that happened recently on the Sino-Indian border�.
�Prior to the resolution of the border issue, it is hoped that the Indian side abide by the agreement protocol, respect and obey the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and refrain from hyping up the issue and work with China to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,� Geng said. He reiterated China�s repeated stand that Beijing never recognised Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of southern Tibet.
�China�s position on the Sino-Indian boundary issue is consistent and clear. The Chinese government has never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh,� he said.
�Both China and India are negotiating to resolve the boundary issue,� he said. � PTI
