NEW DELHI : India and China are considering to establish a hotline connection between their military headquarters, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply that the establishment of a hotline between military headquarters of the two countries had been discussed at various fora. The two sides discussed the issue during the visit of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee to China in July this year. The issue was also taken up during the seventh meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination in New Delhi on October 16-17.
The matter was being discussed under the provisions of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement which was signed last year by the two countries.
Responding to a supplementary on the violation of Indian territory by the Chinese army, the Minister said as there was no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, these incidents happened due to the differing perceptions of the LAC.
He said the government was regularly taking up any transgressions along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including border personnel meetings, flag meetings, meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Indo-China Border Affairs and diplomatic channels. Mr Parrikar added that the government was also regularly reviewing the threat perception to secure borders and protect national interest.
Appropriate measures were being taken from time to time to maintain and upgrade the country’s defence preparedness along the border to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India.
(AGENCIES)
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