Beijing: Saying that it has not recognised Arunachal Pradesh as part of India, China on July 25 alleged that "Indian people" crossed the Eastern sector of Line of Actual Control in the North Eastern state and not its forces as claimed by New Delhi.

Denying a report published in a Delhi newspaper that Chinese forces had transgressed into Indian territory near the LAC when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was visiting Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China does not recognise that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India.

"We have noted the relevant report. China does not recognise the so-called Arunachal Pradesh mentioned by the Indian newspaper report," Kong said.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman on July 24 said that the Indian government was aware of the transgression of the LAC by a Chinese patrol on June 26, 2003 in Asaphila area of the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. This is an area where there are differences in perception of the LAC between the two sides, he said.

Kong said "as far as the incident mentioned, after investigations, we have found that the Indian side crossed the Eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). At the request of the Chinese side, the Indian people who crossed the LAC, returned to the Indian side of the LAC".

China lays claim to 90,000 sq km of land in Arunachal Pradesh and does not recognise the North Eastern state as part of Indian territory.

PTI