EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Question No - 429
:
Answered Date : 24-02-2010
Subject : LAND ISSUE WITH CHINA

 

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-


(a) whether India has lost substantial part of its land to China due to repeated incursions, mapping problem and non-defining border between the two countries; 

(b) if so, the details of the land lost due to said reasons; 

(c) the steps taken by the Government to regain Indian land occupied by China and to ensure safety of Indian herdsmen in Laddakh region; 

(d) whether a meeting of the officials of State Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence was recently organised in Leh to look into the matter; 

(e) if so, the outcome thereof; and 

(f) the details of the meetings held with Chinese officials on the border issues and the outcome thereof?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA) 

(a) to (f) China is in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq kms. of territory in the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir since 1962. 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. Government does not recognize the illegal occupation of Indian territory by China and has raised this issue in all negotiations with the Chinese side including in the meetings of the Special Representatives. There have been thirteen meetings of the Special Representatives so far. Following the first five meetings the “Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question” was signed on April 11, 2005 during the visit of the Chinese Premier to India. The talks are now focused on exploring the framework for a settlement covering all sectors of the India-China boundary. The two sides have agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas pending a negotiated settlement of the Boundary Question and have put in place various Confidence Building Measures to this end.