Indian drone intrudes into China s airspace, crashes : Chinese Military (Second Lead)

Beijing Dec 7 (IANS) The Chinese military alleged on Thursday that an Indian drone "intruded" into China s airspace and has "crashed".

"The Indian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) intruded into China s airspace and crashed recently and Chinese border troops have conducted identification and verification over the vehicle " Xinhua news agency quoted Zhang Shuili deputy head of the combat bureau of the Western Theater Command s joint staff department as saying.

The newly-created Western Theater Command is the largest of the five military divisions in China. Tibet which shares a border with India comes under it.

"India s move has infringed upon China s territorial sovereignty and we are strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to this.

"We will fulfil our mission and responsibility and defend China s national sovereignty and security resolutely " he added.

India is yet to react to the Chinese claim which comes ahead of its Foreign Minister Wang Yi s visit to New Delhi on December 11.

Wang will attend the foreign ministerial meet of Russia India and China.

Indian and China were locked into a 73-day military stand-off at Doklam in the Sikkim section which was resolved on August 28.

The stand-off put a new strain between India-China ties.

--IANS
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