'China has not intruded in Ladakh'

New Delhi: Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said there has been no intrusion by the Chinese in Ladakh's Demchok sector. "There is no intrusion," Rawat said. His statement comes amidst reports of Chinese soldiers crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) last week after some Tibetans hoisted Tibetan flags on the occasion of Dalai Lama's birthday on July 6.

The Army chief said that both sides have different perspectives on the Line of Actual Control. "There are gaps in between. So both sides patrol and come into each other's areas. Chinese come and patrol to their perceived LAC which we try and prevent. We try and attempt to reach out to LAC or based on the limit of patrolling given to us, we visit those areas," he said.

South Block sources had on Friday said some 11 Chinese in civilian clothes arrived in two vehicles when Ladakhi villagers were celebrating Dalai Lama's birthday on July 6. They then showed them banners and waited there for 30-40 minutes but did not cross the Line of Actual Control, they said.

The Tibetans were celebrating the 84th birthday of the Dalai Lama. "At times, there are celebrations that take place at the local level. Celebrations were going on our side by our Tibetans in the Demchok sector. Based on that, some Chinese also came to see what was happening," General Rawat said.