Date:31/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/31/stories/2003073104941100.htm

National

China 'illegally claiming' 90,000 sq. km. in Arunachal

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 30. China "illegally claims" approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in the eastern sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Digvijay Singh, informed the Lok Sabha today.

"China also continues to be in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq. km in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km of Indian territory in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to China," Mr. Singh stated.

"India and China seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question through peaceful consultations," he stated in a written response to questions.

"In the Declaration of Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation issued on June 23, 2003, during the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China, India and China have agreed that both would appoint Special Representative(s) to explore the framework of a boundary settlement, from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship,'' he said.

Mr. Singh's statement on China's claims on Arunachal Pradesh is a re-statement of India's old position on the boundary dispute but assumes importance given the recent Chinese statement that Beijing did not recognise Arunachal as part of India.