WORLD NEWS:-China avoids direct reply to land grabbing reports

BEIJING: Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the boundary dispute with India will not affect the friendly relationship between the two

countries.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a reporter that she has not seen reports in The Times of India about Chinese forces grabbing land into the Indian territory across the border.

She did not directly reply whether land grabbing has taken place but went on to say that China has a "positive attitude" on the need to further develop the friendly relationship with India and settle the border issue.

The two countries have reached a consensus on the need to settle the boundary problem and were working in that direction.

Replying to another question at the ministry’s press conference, she said the launch of the inceptor missile by China on Monday has not left any debris in the outer space and will do nothing to hinder any space craft in future.

The inceptor missile, which was successfully launched by China, filled the country’s legitimate need to "safeguard territorial integrity," she said. It was launched with a peaceful purpose, she said.

Jiang did not answer a question on whether it is meant to counter Patriot missiles sold by the United States to Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as part of its own territory and has often threatened military action to take it back. She said China is totally opposed to the US sales of missiles or any form of interaction between Washington and Taiwan.