India and China agree to ‘quickly disengage’ from border standoff

India and China have agreed to ease tensions and have agreed to  “quickly disengage” from a standoff that has seen clashes at the disputed border. 

Foreign ministers of both the countries met on Thursday and said that they would ease tensions.

Soldiers from both China and India clashed at the Line of Actual Control in the standoff. Both have blamed each other for entering their territory.

In a joint statement, the neighbors said the “current situation is not in the interest of either side”.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi released a statement that reads, “They agreed, therefore, that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions,”

They added that they would expedite new measures that would “maintain and enhance peace and tranquility”, but did not explain further what these would entail.

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China says India has fired “provocative” warning shots at patrolling soldiers

China claimed that Indian forces have illegally crossed a disputed border and...

Earlier, China claimed that Indian forces have illegally crossed a disputed border and fired “provocative” warning shots at patrolling soldiers.

A military spokesperson said that Chinese guards were “forced to take countermeasures”. Though it was not clear what they were.

According to the news source, senior colonel Zhang Shuili spokesperson of the People’s Liberation Army quoted that Indian troops had “illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) into the Shenpao mountain region near the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake”.

Mr. Zhang said India’s move “seriously violated related agreements reached by both sides, stirred up tensions in the region… and is very vile in nature.”