
China lays claim to Arunachal
A week before President Hu Jintao arrives in India on November 20 for a four-day visit, China struck a discordant note on Monday by claiming that the whole of Arunachal Pradesh was "Chinese territory".
In an interview to
CNN-IBN
, Sun Yuxi, China’s ambassador to India, said: "In our position, the whole of the state of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory. And Tawang is only one of the places in it. We are claiming all of that. That is our position."
Stressing the need to be realistic, Sun said in the interview that there was no time frame within which India and China had to resolve the long-standing border dispute.
When contacted, the Chinese embassy confirmed that “the interview took place”.
Sun had earlier told the Hindustan Times that prior to Hu’s visit, the special representatives of India and China -- MK Narayanan and Dai Bingguo -- would meet in New Delhi to finalise a “framework” within which talks on the boundary issue would be carried forward.
But according to officials at the Ministry of External Affairs, no such talks were fixed, although India had indicated November 9 and 10 as possible dates.
Sources said the border dispute would “certainly” be raised at the discussions Hu holds with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but it was unlikely that there would be any major forward movement.
Last year, during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit, China and India had formulated a set of wide-ranging 'guiding principles' within which to resolve the dispute.
But officials said during Hu's visit, the parameters of the bilateral strategic relationship would be more clearly defined. India and China will also work out a mechanism for regular, high-level consultations.
In the interview, Sun declined to comment on India's nuclear capability. "Unfortunately, we have five nuclear weapons' powers in the world," he said. "That number should be reduced. We will be very happy if we can give up our nuclear weapons, and are working for an international agreement on elimination of nuclear weapons."
China, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, has been non-committal on the issue of an India-specific waiver by the group to permit member countries to begin civilian nuclear commerce with India.
Email:

Supreme Court to begin limited physical hearing on trial basis from March 15
- In January this year, Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde ruled out any reopening of courts for the present.

Nepal Police hand over body of Indian man killed in firing in Pilibhit

AIADMK, DMK yet to close deal with key allies for Tamil Nadu assembly polls

At top commanders’ meet, PM Modi calls for army to become 'future force'

Punjab reports over 1,000 daily new Covid-19 cases for second time in March

NIA files chargesheet against 3 Bodo militants for killing Assam police officer
- The chargesheet was filed on Friday before a special NIA court against the accused persons-Bishnu Narzary, Nitul Daimary and Runiluish Daimary under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Over ₹25,000 million collected for Ram Temple’s construction: VHP
- Rai said that door-to-door collection of funds for the Ram Temple construction has also been stopped.

Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, these states have imposed fresh restrictions
- The central government has also rushed high-level multi-disciplinary public health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab in view of the increase in the number of daily new Covid-19 cases being reported by these states.

‘Will modify Covid travel restrictions with Kerala’: Karnataka govt to HC

News updates from HT: Covid-19 vaccination for Army veterans to begin next week

Vaccination centre for eligible MPs set up inside Parliament complex
- Nearly half or 366 out of 777 MPs are eligible for Covid-19 vaccines in the category of elderly people. 47% of MPs are above sixty years of age and meet the criteria for elderly people who can get vaccinated in the current phase.

Covid-19 vaccination for veterans to begin at service hospitals next week: Army
- There are more than 3.2 million ex-servicemen (ESM) in the country, and many of them have been waiting to get vaccinated at service hospitals.

Gujarat health official tests positive for Covid-19 after two doses of vaccine

Protesting farmers block expressway in Haryana as agitation completes 100th day
