Beijing, China - July 24, 2017
1. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at press briefing
2. Reporters at press briefing
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lu Kang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman (starting with shot 2):
"I've noticed it's quoted by Indian media reports. Here I might as well point to the fact that Madam (Julie) Bishop is right to say territorial disputes should be settled peacefully, but I have to emphasize that her wording is just not applicable to the status quo because there is no territorial dispute whatsoever in that region."
4. Reporters at press briefing
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lu Kang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"The Sikkim section of the China-India border is a mutually-recognized boundary which has been honored for the past 127 years, with no dispute ever. The nature of this recent incident, as we have mentioned many times, is illegal boundary cross-over by Indian border troops. They have crossed over the well-demarcated Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered the Chinese territory. A nature like this differs from previous disputes along undetermined boundaries between the two countries."
6. Reporters at press briefing
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lu Kang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"China wishes to safeguard peace and stability along the China-India border. But we will not make concessions on issues concerning territorial sovereignty. It is India that should be held responsible for all the tensions. We urge India to have a clearer picture of the situation and take measures at an earlier date to avoid further escalation."
8. Reporters at press briefing

Border violation and border dispute should never be mixed up with by a senior diplomat in the capacity of foreign minister, according to a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman on Monday.

Spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks while responding to a reported statement made by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during her recent visit to India.

The Times of India newspaper quoted the Australian visitor as saying the lasting Donglang standoff and dispute between India and China should be resolved peacefully.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman pointed to the improperness of Bishop's wording.

"Here I might as well point to the fact that Madam (Julie) Bishop is right to say territorial disputes should be settled peacefully, but I have to emphasize that her wording is just not applicable to the status quo because there is no territorial dispute whatsoever in that region," said Lu at a routine press briefing.

Lu said the Sikkim section of the China-India border is a mutually-recognized boundary which has been honored for the past 127 years, with no dispute ever.

"The nature of this recent incident, as we have mentioned many times, is illegal boundary cross-over by Indian border troops. They have crossed over the well-demarcated Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered the Chinese territory. A nature like this differs from previous disputes along undetermined boundaries between the two countries," said the spokesman.

Lu added that China wishes to safeguard peace and stability along the China-India border. But China will not make concessions on issues concerning territorial sovereignty.

"It is India that should be held responsible for all the tensions. We urge India to have a clearer picture of the situation and take measures at an earlier date to avoid further escalation," said the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman.