India, China capable of addressing border issues: Beijing

Beijing: On a United States senior officials remarks on China building infrastructure along Indo-China borders, Beijing responded that US officials were adding fuel to the fire and added that India and China have the will and capability to resolve their differences through dialogue, PTI reported.

For Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian issued the response to the comments by US Army's Pacific Commanding General Charles A Flynn, who termed Chinese infrastructure building in the region a "despicable act" and the situation in eastern Ladakh is alarming.

Lijian told the media, "This border issue is between China and India (and) the two sides have the will and capability to properly resolve the issue through talks."

"some US officials are trying to add fuel to the fire and pointing fingers. This is a despicable act. We hope they will do more to contribute to regional peace and stability," he said. He underscored that situation in eastern Ladakh is stabilising. The frontline forces from both countries have realised disengagement in most areas along the western section," he said.

General Flynn, who is visiting India, opined on Wednesday that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "destabilising and corrosive" behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region is unhelpful and "it is worthy of us working together as a counterweight".

Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, when a violent clash between the two sides erupted in the Pangong lake area. Last month, it emerged that China is constructing a second bridge in an area held by it around the strategically critical Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh, which could help its military to mobilise its troops in the region quickly.

India and China have held 15 rounds of military talks so far to resolve the Ladakh standoff. As a result of the negotiations, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.