Chinese Suggestion for Border Adjustment
RAJYA SABHA
China illegally claims approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory including Tawang in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. According to a report in ‘The Statesman’ dated 1 November 2007, the former Chinese Ambassador to India, Mr. Zhou Gang reportedly said, “As the Chinese people would never accept ‘McMahon Line’, India must make substantial adjustment in the Eastern sector.” The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India has been conveyed by Government to the Chinese side.
Indian territory under the occupation by China in Jammu & Kashmir is approximately 38,000 sq. kms. In addition, under the so-called “China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement” of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. China illegally claims approximately 90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh and about 2000 sq. kms. in the Middle Sector of the India-China boundary. The Special Representatives of India and China are presently seeking a framework for settlement of the boundary question that is fair, reasonable, mutually acceptable and based on the agreement on Guiding Principles and Political Parameters signed in April 2005.
The above information was given by the Minister of External Affairs, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in response to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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BY/MK-10/08
(Release ID :35738)