India ‘deeply concerned’ over China’s construction work, Beijing says neighbour’s troops trespassed

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 30, 2017: India on Friday expressed serious concern at Chinese construction activities in Donglang area, saying they amount to a “significant change of status quo” even as Beijing continued to insist the standoff in Sikkim sector could be resolved only if New Delhi recalled its troops to their original positions.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang brushed aside questions at a news briefing on Donglang mountain pass being at the centre of a territorial dispute between China and Bhutan, and said the region was an “indisputable” part of China. He said Indian troops had “trespassed” into the area on June 18.

“We stressed many times that Doklam belongs to China and it is indisputable. The area where the Chinese side undertakes road construction totally belongs to Chinese territory,” Lu said, referring to the construction of a road in an area claimed by Bhutan that triggered the standoff on June 16.

“Yet the crux of the current situation lies with the Indian side. The Indian troops trespassed the recognised and delineated boundary between China and India,” he said.

”So the most pressing issue is the withdrawal of troops into the Indian territory. That is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue,” Lu said, adding China has complete “administrative control” over Donglang.

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said in a statement it was “deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions” as the construction represents a “significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India”.

The statement also acknowledged for the first time since the standoff began on June 16 that Indian troops were acting in coordination with the Bhutan government. It said Indian troops in Doka La area approached the Chinese construction party and “urged them to desist from changing the status quo” by building the road. “These efforts continue,” the statement added.

On Thursday, Bhutan too asked China to maintain status quo, saying the construction activity violated two agreements signed by Beijing and Thimphu in 1988 and 1998 to maintain peace and tranquillity along their disputed border.

India also pointed out to that under a bilateral agreement of 2012, the two sides had agreed the boundary in the tri-junction area between China, Bhutan and India would be “finalised in consultation with the concerned countries”.

“Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding,” the statement said.

There were also signs that the two sides were working to bring the situation under control. Spokesperson Lu said the diplomatic channel of communication between the two sides remained “unimpeded” while the Indian statement noted that the matter was being discussed in New Delhi and Beijing. The issue was also discussed by border personnel at a meeting in Nathu La on June 20.

India said it was essential for all parties to “display utmost restraint and abide by their respective bilateral understandings not to change the status quo unilaterally”. The consensus reached through the process of Special Representatives on the border issue should be “scrupulously respected” and India “cherishes peace and tranquillity” along the border that “has not come easily”, the statement said.

“We stressed many times that Doklam belongs to China and it is indisputable. The area where the Chinese side undertakes road construction totally belongs to Chinese territory,” he said.

Unlike other disputed sections of the India-China border, the frontier in Sikkim has largely been peaceful. The last Indian fatalities in a clash in the region were recorded in 1975. The recognition of the borders of Sikkim by China in 2003 had helped improve the situation in the sector.

Though the Donglang or Doklam area is under China’s control, Bhutan has claimed it for long. China and Bhutan do not have formal diplomatic relations and maintain contact through their missions in New Delhi.

China’s foreign ministry sought to reinforce its claim on Donglang, with spokesperson Lu saying: “From historical evidence, we can see Doklam has been a traditional pasture for Tibetan residents and we have exercised good administration over this area. Before 1960s, if Bhutan residents on the border wanted to herd their cattle in this area, they have to get the approval of China.”

He added, “In addition from jurisprudential evidence the historical convention in 1890 has clearly defined Gipmochi snow mountain as the crossing point of China-Bhutan-India boundary.

Lu also attempted to play down the lack of diplomatic ties between Thimpu and Beijing.

“Even though Bhutan and China have not established diplomatic relations, we always maintain friendship. We can tell you that Chinese people hold friendly and goodwill relations to Bhutanese people, but our determination to uphold or territorial integrity and sovereignty is unwavering,” he said.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes