India refutes China's claims, says no reduction of troops in Doklam
Beijing has claimed that it had notified New Delhi in advance about its move to build a road in the area for local transportation .
New Delhi/Beijing: China on Wednesday said that India, which had already reduced its troops in Doklam from 400 to just about 40, must pull back completely, with “no strings attached”. However, sources in the Indian security establishment dismissed China’s claim of withdrawal and said that the stand-off continues as it was — with about 350 Indian troops digging their heels in and facing about 400 Chinese troops a short distance away.
In a 15-page fact-sheet on the Doklam stand-off, China claimed that there were 270 Indian troops in Doklam in mid-June, which went up to 400, but dropped to about 40 at the end of July.
India reacted to the Chinese statement, saying it “considers that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas is an important prerequisite for smooth development of our bilateral relations with China”, thereby strongly conveying that it stands by its position despite the Dragon’s fury, and that ties depends on peace on the borders.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) also referred to its earlier statement wherein it had said it was “deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese covernment that such construction (of a road in Doklam) would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India”.
China also said that it has conveyed - at the July 28 meeting between Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi - its firm stand that India must take “concrete actions” by immediately pulling back troops from Doklam to resolve the current standoff.
Beijing indicated there was no breakthrough in the talks. Despite the face-off, there have been no hostilities so far. But there has been a lot of posturing and strident rhetoric in Chine media.
China has variously referred to Indian presence in Doklam (which both India and Bhutan regard as Bhutanese territory) as “illegal”, “trespass”, and an attempt to “change the status quo of the China-India boundary in the Sikkim sector”, while warning that India should not “underestimate” its resolve to defend “Chinese territory”.
Beijing has claimed that it had notified New Delhi in advance about its move to build a road in the area for “local transportation”.
New Delhi has maintained that the road was in Bhutan’s territory and the stand-off was triggered after Thimphu objected.
China claims Doklam as its own and refers to it as Dong Lang. Bhutan had protested in mid-June about the presence of Chinese troop in Doklam but the Chinese dismissed its concerns. Following which Bhutan approached India for help.
In the statement, China’s foreign ministry said, “On 16 June 2017, the Chinese side was building a road in the Dong Lang area. On 18 June, over 270 Indian border troops, carrying weapons and driving two bulldozers, crossed the boundary in the Sikkim Sector at the Duo Ka La (Doka La) pass and advanced more than 100 meters into the Chinese territory to obstruct the road building of the Chinese side, causing tension in the area. In addition to the two bulldozers, the trespassing Indian border troops, reaching as many as over 400 people at one point, have put up three tents and advanced over 180 meters into the Chinese territory. As of the end of July, there were still over 40 Indian border troops and one bulldozer illegally staying in the Chinese territory.”
The Chinese foreign ministry said during their talks with Mr Doval, Mr Yang “expressed China’s stern positions and explicit requirements on the trespass of Indian border troops into China’s territory at the Sikkim section of China-India boundary.”
In the fact-sheet, China separately said, “Since the incident occurred, China has shown utmost goodwill and great restraint and sought to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the incident. But no country should ever underestimate the resolve of the Chinese government and people to defend China’s territorial sovereignty. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests India should immediately and unconditionally withdraw its trespassing border troops back to the Indian side of the boundary. This is a prerequisite and basis for resolving the incident.”