Press Trust of India Posted online: Sunday, September 04, 2005 at 1821 hours IST
Mumbai, September 4: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee's references to Chinese invasion of Arunchal Pradesh in 1962 and border dispute with China sparked a war of words with a top Chinese diplomat, generating some heat at a seminar.
Mukherjee said there were certain issues on which India and China still had differences like Arunachal Pradesh.
"China has solved border disputes with ten neighbours except India and Bhutan," he said in his speech on the 'Role of Private Sector in Defence Preparedness' organised by the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC).
He pointed out that defence production underwent major changes 'after Chinese invasion in 1962.'
"On Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, we have differences. However, the difference on Sikkim was resolved during the last visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's to India in April last," he said.
Chinese Consul General Song De Heng, who was present at the function, objected to Mukherjee's statement calling China an 'invader' in Arunachal Pradesh and said the situation, circumstances and position was such that his country could not be called so.
"On the issue of border dispute, I fail to understand what you mean by saying that China resolved border dispute with its neighbours barring India and Bhutan. Both the nations have been discussing. Is China difficult to negotiate or India?" Heng said.
Mukherjee said India greatly valued friendship with China but added that 1962 was a factual position and that he was not drawing any meaning to it. He pointed out India has been taking Confidence Building Measures with China.
