A day after reports emerged that China was constructing the second bridge across the Pangong Tso Lake, India said that the area where the reported construction is being undertaken has been considered an “occupied area” by New Delhi for decades.
While addressing the media, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India monitors such developments and that the ministry had seen the reports regarding the bridge and it could not comment on it from a military perspective.
“Implications and details can only be given by the Ministry of Defence, will share if there is any update,” Bagchi said.
Reports emerged on Thursday, that China has begun constructing a second bridge across the Pangong Lake that will be capable of accommodating heavy armoured vehicles, months after completing another bridge in the same region that is claimed by India.
As per reports, the second bridge is being constructed parallel to the first bridge, which is narrower and was completed in April this year.
The first bridge is being used to move equipment such as cranes needed to build the second one, according to experts who analysed the latest high-resolution satellite imagery of the site.
Speaking on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the external affairs ministry spokesperson said that talks were on and India has put its stance forward.
“And the external affairs minister, while talking to the media subsequently, then said that the friction and tensions that arise from China’s deployments since April 2020 cannot be reconciled with a normal relationship between two neighbours,” Bagchi said.
“The frictions cannot be reconciled without a solution to the border issue,” Bagchi added.
