China dismisses 'incursion' into Ladakh

Dismissing as "groundless and incorrect" reports that its border guards had intruded into Ladakh in India and painted boulders and rocks red there, China on Tuesday said the two neighbours should work together to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the frontier.

The Chinese side strictly follows the relevant provisions of the border patrol and did not cross into Indian territory, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told mediapersons.

As the Sino-India border issue remains unresolved, both sides should work together to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in border areas, she said when asked to comment on a report that Chinese People's Liberation Army guards had violated the International Border in Ladakh region and painted boulders and rocks in the area red.

She described the reports as "groundless and incorrect."

Asked about a China-bound United Arab Emirates aircraft carrying arms being detained in Kolkata airport, she said the government had no information in this regard.

The Chinese troops entered nearly 1.5 km into the Indian territory near Mount Gya, recognised as International Border by India and China, and painted the boulders and rocks with red spray paint, Indian officials had said.

The incursions were reported from the area, generally referred in the Chumar sector in east of Leh, and the guards had painted 'China' in Mandarin with red spray paint all over the boulders and rocks, they said.

The 22,420 ft Mount Gya, also known as "fair princess of snow" by army, is located at the tri-junction of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Tibet.

The border patrol discovered the red paint markings on various rocks and boulders along the Zulung La (pass) on July 31, the officials said. Before this incursion, Chinese helicopters had violated the Indian air space along the Line of Actual Control in Chumar region in June and also air-dropped some expired food.