India says Chinese actions have serious security implications

India said on Friday that it has told China that the building of a road by Chinese troops in a border region will have "serious security implications for India" and urged Beijing "not to change the status quo unilaterally".

"India is deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India," an External Affairs Ministry statement said.

It said India had underlined that New Delhi and Beijing had in 2012 reached an agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries would be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries.

"Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding," the Indian statement said.

"Where the boundary in the Sikkim sector is concerned, India and China had reached an understanding also in 2012 reconfirming their mutual agreement on the 'basis of the alignment'.

"It is essential that all parties concerned display utmost restraint and abide by their respective bilateral understandings not to change the status quo unilaterally."

The statement said India cherished peace and tranquillity on the India-China border areas. "It has not come easily.

"India is committed to working with China to find peaceful resolution of all issues in the border areas through dialogue."

--IANS

ab-mr/soni