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In Fresh Flare-Up Along India-China Border Both Sides Accuse Each Other of
Firing Warning Shots

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - Tensions increasedalong the India-Chinaborder as both sides
   accused each other of firing warning shots at their disputed Himalayan
   boundary,where a military standoff is now in its fifth month.

   An Indian army statement denied firing shots and blamed China's
   military for "provocative activities" to escalate tensions,while the
   Chinese foreign ministry said the action is being considered a "serious
   military provocation."

   Both sides have a longstanding agreement to not use firearms along the
   border to prevent conflagrations between their troops,who often stand
   within meters of each other.

   The latest face-off occurred along the southern bank of the strategic
   Pangong Tso Lake, an icy, high altitude lake in Ladakh, where both
   sides accuse each other of breaching thedefactoborder known as the
   "line of actual control."

   The flare-up comes days after the defense ministers of the two
   countries said they had agreed to work toward defusing tensions along
   their contested border.

   ChineseForeignMinistry spokesman ZhaoLijiansaid Tuesday that Indian
   troops had illegally crossed the line of control and were the first to
   fire shots.

   "Indian troops blatantly fired warning shots at our border patrolling
   troops,who were there for consultation. Our troops were compelled to
   take measures to stabilize the situation," Lijian told a news briefing
   in Beijing. He did not specify what the measures were.

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