NEW DELHI, Sept 5: India and China were locked in a rare wordy duel on their border dispute on Sunday when a Chinese diplomat publicly rejected Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s version of how their 1962 war had started, Indian newspapers reported on Monday. “China solved border disputes with 10 neighbours except India and Bhutan,” Mr Mukherjee told a meeting at the Indian Merchant’s Chamber in Mumbai.

Chinese Consul General Song De Heng, who was present at the function, objected to Mr Mukherjee calling China an “invader” and said the situation was such that his country could not be called so.

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