Not building roads in disputed NE areas: Japan tells China

Japan has clarified to China that it is not building any road in northeast India that falls within the area disputed between New Delhi and Beijing.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its territory (called South Tibet locally) and some media reports had suggested the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was building roads in the disputed border areas.

The foreign ministry on Tuesday said that the “cooperation” between Japan and India was not in the disputed area.

Answering a question from the Chinese state media, foreign ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei, said China had sought clarifications from Japan about the project.

Hong said authorities here had “noted” the reports and “checked with capable authorities”.

“Japan has clarified that the cooperation with India is not in the disputed area between China and India,” Hong said at

JAPAN IS CARRYING OUT PROJECTS IN SIKKIM, ASSAM, TRIPURA AND MIZORAM IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

the daily presser on Tuesday.

JICA is involved in many projects in India but, according to its website, none in Arunachal Pradesh. In the northeast, it is carrying out projects in Sikkim, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram in the sectors of poverty alleviation and water management.

China is sensitive to any project that India plans in the disputed areas in Arunachal Pradesh. In October, China had reacted sharply to reports that suggested that India was planning to build roads along the remote and inaccessible parts of the Line of Actual Control. Hong had then said that China hoped that India did not complicate the border situation.