BEIJING: China believes India's move to add more troops at the disputed border is "not conducive to easing tensions", a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.
India has freed up a contingent of 10,000 soldiers, previously deployed at its western border, to strengthen its disputed border with China, as per media reports.
TOI had reported on Feb 21 that Uttar Bharat (UB) Area based in Bareilly, largely a static formation geared for administrative, training and other peace-time purposes, will be converted into a full-fledged corps, with additional infantry, artillery, aviation, air defence and engineer brigades under it.
Army wants UB Area to transform into an operational corps tasked with guarding the middle sector of the 3,488-km line of actual control (LAC), a source said.
'Committed to work with India to safeguard peace'
The two countries have previously agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, and recently held a constructive meeting on resolving border issues in the western section of the China-India border.
"China is committed to working with India to safeguard the peace and stability of the border areas," Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said. "We believe that India's practice is not conducive to safeguarding peace and is not conducive to easing tensions."
Mao added that "India's increase in military deployments in border areas does not help to calm the situation in the border areas or to safeguard peace and safety in these areas".
China has so far rebuffed India's push for troop disengagement from the two remaining major face-offs at Depsang Plains and the Charding Ninglung Nallah track junction at Demchok in Ladakh, let alone accept any return to status quo ante, despite 20 rounds of corps commander-level talks. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in clashes in Galwan in mid-2020. Both militaries have fortified positions and deployed troops and equipment there in the last few years.
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