China has voiced concerns over India's decision to station additional troops along the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC), stating it is "not conducive to easing tensions," according to a statement from a Foreign Ministry official on Friday.
Reports suggest that India has redeployed a battalion of 10,000 soldiers, previously positioned along its western frontier, to strengthen its border defences against China.
The two countries have previously committed to engaging in discussions through both military and diplomatic channels, with recent meetings aimed at addressing border disputes along the western sector of the China-India boundary yielding productive outcomes.
In retaliation, Indian media have reported the mobilisation of 10,000 troops from the western border to oversee the 532 km (331 mile) frontier with China in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, regions adjoining the Himalayas.
"China is dedicated to collaborating with India to uphold peace and stability at the border," stated Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
He further remarked, "We believe India's actions do not contribute to the preservation of peace and do nothing to diminish tensions."
Mao also highlighted, "The escalation of military presence by India in the border areas fails to aid in de-escalating the situation or in maintaining peace and security in these regions."
India and China share a 3,800-kilometer border, much of which remains ambiguously demarcated. In mid-2020, clashes in the area resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops, marking the most severe conflict since the 1962 war.
Since the Galwan Valley incident in 2020, there have been several skirmishes between the two nations.
Both parties have agreed to resolve the dispute via diplomatic and military communication channels.
The border delineation between India and China is ill-defined; China upholds the border as defined in 1959 and urges India to acknowledge it, whereas India has consistently contested this claim, insisting on adherence to the 1993 agreement which stipulates that "neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other by any means. Pending a final solution to the boundary question between the two countries, the two sides shall strictly respect and observe the line of actual control between the two sides."
In the meantime, both nations have further strengthened their military presence near strategic locations by deploying additional troops and military equipment.
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