China cautions India on plan to build border highway

China said on Wednesday that India should not take any action that may complicate the situation in disputed border areas, following reports that India is planning to build 1,800 km of highway along the McMahon line dividing it from China.

Asked for comments on the reports Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in his daily press briefing in Beijing, "We will check on that. The China-India boundary question is an issue left over by the western colonists and should be properly resolved with the concerted efforts of China and India."

Hong's remarks come in the wake of comments made on Tuesday by India's minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju that there were plans to construct a road along the international border between Mago-Thingbu in Tawang district and Vijaynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh (India plans 1,800 km highway along China border).

Stating there do "exist disputes in the eastern section of the China-India boundary," Hong said, "Pending the final settlement of the boundary question, we hope that the Indian side will refrain from taking actions in disputed areas that may complicate the question, safeguard peace and tranquility of the border areas and create conditions for the settlement of the boundary question and the development of China-India relations."