Indian airspace violation: China calls for peace, stability on border

A day after India said it will take up the alleged violation of its airspace by two Chinese helicopters, China on Tuesday said both sides should maintain peace and stability along the borders.

"I think we should communicate and coordinate with each other through the border consultation mechanism to uphold peace and stability across the border," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

"I want to reiterate that China and India have disputes on their border. Chinese patrol guards have also conducted patrol," she added.

Earlier on Monday, China defended the alleged incursion by two People's Liberation Army choppers across the Indian boundary, saying Beijing could patrol in the disputed area.

 

Describing the flight by the choppers as "unacceptable", India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that New Delhi will take up the matter with Beijing.

The two Chinese military choppers were sighted hovering over Barahoti in Chamoli district on Saturday.

Since March this year, there have been four such incursions into the Indian airspace.

Barahoti was designated as disputed area by both China and India in 1958.

It was agreed that neither side would send troops in the area, which is a sloping pasture.