Defence Minister Arun Jaitley confirms Chinese transgression into India

New Delhi: Even as India is engaging China at the highest levels on all issues including theborder dispute between the two countries, Union defence minister Arun Jaitley told the Parliament on Tuesday that “two Chinese helicopters transgressed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on April 30 and June 13 this year in Uttarakhand.”

Mr Jaitley also said, “Due to differing percepti-on of the LAC by both India and China, transgre-ssions do occur.” He said that incidents of such transgressions are taken up with the Chinese side.

The transgression on June 13 took place well after the Modi Government had been sworn in.

In reply to another question, the minister said, “Naval and Air bases continue to remain at high alert to thwart threats to security of the establishments.”

In another written reply on a collision involving a naval vessel last year, the minister said, “The incident of collision between INS Talwar and a fishing vessel on December 23, 2013, has been attributed to both inadequate lookout and non-adherence of standard norms of outboard lighting by the fishing boat as well as error in judgement by the naval ship’s crew at night. The Board of Inquiry (BoI) instituted by Indian Navy has held four officers and two sailors culpable and disciplinary action is being initiated against them.”