Reports of detained Chinese soldiers are Indian media hype: Military source

Recent reports by Indian media that Chinese soldiers have been detained for "crossing the borderline" are purely fabricated, a Chinese military source said on Saturday.

The source said Chinese border troops conducted a routine patrol on Sept 28 in the Dongzhang area on the Chinese side of the Sino-Indian border and encountered "unreasonable obstruction" from the Indian military. The Chinese officers and soldiers took countermeasures resolutely and returned after the patrol mission was completed.

The source said the Dongzhang area is China's inherent territory and it is entirely reasonable and legal for Chinese border troops to organize patrols on their own territory. Reports that Chinese soldiers were detained were entirely fabricated and hyped by Indian media.

This incident is a deliberate provocation and a distortion and smear campaign by the Indian side, which is a serious violation of the bilateral agreement. "The responsibility rests entirely with the Indian side," the source said.

The Indian side should earnestly comply with bilateral agreements, strictly control and restrain its front-line troops, and work with the Chinese military to maintain peace and stability in the border area, the source added.