(Updating with more details)By K J M VarmaBeijing, Dec 7 (PTI) An Indian drone has recently"intruded" into China's airspace and crashed, the Chinesemilitary said today, asserting that the incident infringedupon the territorial sovereignty of the country.
China's Defence Ministry said that the Indian unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into the Chinese side of theborder.
The Indian drone "intruded" into China's airspace andcrashed recently, and China's border troops have conductedidentification and verification over the vehicle, said ZhangShuili, deputy head of the combat bureau of the WesternTheatre Command's joint staff department.
He did not provide the exact location of the crash.
Chinese military's western theatre command jurisdiction coversalmost all of the 3488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC),including Tibet's border region with India and the Ladakhregion.
"India's move has infringed upon China's territorialsovereignty, and we are strongly dissatisfied with and opposedto this," Zhang was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhuanews agency.
"We will fulfil our mission and responsibility and defendChina's national sovereignty and security resolutely," hesaid.
However, there was no immediate response from the IndianDefence Ministry.
The Chinese military's claim came months after India andChina were locked in a standoff in the Dokalam sector afterthe Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutantrijunction.
The 73-day-long Dokalam standoff ended on August 28 afterChinese troops stopped building a key road close to India'sChicken Neck corridor.
India had objected to the construction highlighting itssecurity concerns. The road was being built by the Chinesetroops in the area also claimed by Bhutan.
The military's charge comes ahead of Chinese ForeignMinister Wang Yi's visit to New Delhi to take part in theRussia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministers meeting to be heldon December 11.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told mediahere yesterday that Wang will meet top Indian officials on itssidelines.
This will be the first visit by a top Chinese official toIndia after the Dokalam crisis and commencement of secondfive-year term after Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is expected to be followed by the 20th round ofIndia-China boundary talks in New Delhi between Chinese StateCouncillor Yang Jiechi and National Security Advisor AjitDoval, who are the designated Special Representatives. PTI KJVMRJ AKJMRJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.