India concerned as China issues new border law

"We are concerned that China's unilateral decision to pass the law may affect existing bilateral agreements on border management as well as on boundary issues. Such a unilateral move has no bearing on the agreements reached by both sides in the past, whether on boundary issues or on maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas. We also expect China to avoid any action invoking this law that may unilaterally change the situation in the India-China border areas," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

Illustration photo: AFP

Unresolved issues between the two countries

"Both sides agreed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary issue through consultations on the basis of equality. We have also signed a number of bilateral agreements, memoranda and arrangements to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control in the border areas of India and China," the statement added.

Tensions between India and China began to escalate in the Ladakh border region in May 2020, when a series of clashes between military units of the two countries occurred in the Pangong Lake area, forcing New Delhi and Beijing to increase their military presence in the area. The resulting confrontation has cooled relations between the two countries, with India canceling several contracts won by Chinese companies, banning some Chinese computer applications, and canceling purchases of some goods and equipment from China.