China-India border disputes turn sour

• Source: Global Times
• [09:41 October 16 2009]
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By Qiu Wei

Premier Wen Jiabao wants to meet with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in Thailand next week in what looks to be a sign of diplomacy amid renewed border disputes between the neighboring countries, Indian media reported.

The meeting would come on the heels of a recent controversial visit by the Indian prime minister to a disputed region and India's call for China to stop offering assistance on a dam project in Kashmir.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursdaydid not rule out the possibility that the meeting could take place at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

"The ministry is still consulting with relevant departments about Premier Wen's schedule," a spokesperson told the Global Times.

Wen conveyed his wish to meet Singh during a meeting with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who was in Beijing earlier this week to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the Hindustan Times reported Wednesday, quoting unnamed sources.

The border dispute was highlighted again Thursday when Indian Congress leader Rahul Gandhi insisted that "Arunachal Pradesh" was part of India, Press Trust of India reported.

Singh visited "Arunachal Pradesh," on October 3 to campaign ahead of state elections there. AFP reported that Singh refrained from saying anything about China or the border dispute.

China on Tuesday expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" over the visit, accusing the unnamed "Indian leader" of "disregarding China's serious concerns." according to foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.