The United States on Tuesday said that it welcomes any reduction in tension along the India-China border. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that the US has been briefed by New Delhi in this regard.
“We are closely following the developments (between India and China). We understand that both countries have taken initial steps to withdraw troops from friction points along the Line of Actual Control. We welcome any reduction in tensions along the border,” Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
Miller said that the US has played no role in this. “We have talked to our Indian partners and been briefed on it, but we did not play any role in this resolution,” Miller said while responding to a question.
#WATCH | On the disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC, US State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller says, “We are closely following the developments and we understand that both the countries have taken initial steps to withdraw troops from the friction… pic.twitter.com/p2jl0xDjQo
— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2024
India and China began troop disengagement at the two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh last week, PTI reported. The process follows an agreement firmed up between the two countries on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.
The India-China border standoff began in April-May 2020 when Chinese soldiers advanced into Eastern Ladakh, which created a faceoff situation. The standoff took a grave turn and became the first moment of bloodshed on the line of actual control since 1975. On the intervening night of June 15-16, 2020, Indian PLA soldiers fought in the Galwan Valley, during which 20 Indian soldiers died. Chinese soldiers also suffered losses in combat.