The Chinese Government on Wednesday said it recently conveyed to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that New Delhi must take “concrete actions” by immediately pulling back troops from Doklam in the Sikkim sector with “no strings attached” to resolve the current stand-off. China also claimed that India has scaled down its presence in Doklam, a claim denied the official in New Delhi.
Revealing part details of the bilateral meeting between Doval and his Chinese counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi in Beijing on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in Beijing on July 27-28, China’s Foreign Ministry indicated that there was no breakthrough during the talks. Doval and Yang are also Special Representatives in the ongoing border talks between two countries.
According to the Chinese, the bilateral meeting was sought by Doval and Rs in accordance with the practice’. “Yang Jiechi 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. He urged India to respect China’s territorial sovereignty, the international law and the basic rules governing international relations and immediately pull back the trespassing India border troops to the Indian side of the boundary with no strings attached and resolve the current incident with concrete actions.
Interestingly, in its 15-page factsheet released on Wednesday, China said it values the growth of good neighbourly and friendly relations with India and is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border area between the two countries.
Responding to China’s latest statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India considers peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas as an important prerequisite for smooth development of bilateral relations with China. It added India’s position on this issue and related facts have been articulated in its statement made of June 30, 2017 where the concerns and issues were clearly flagged.
India had conveyed to the Chinese Government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. Bhutan also has protested to China, saying that the area belonged to it and accused Beijing of violating agreements to maintain status quo until it is resolved.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry posted its version of the stand-off with maps and other details since it began on June 16 in the form of a factsheet. Among other things, China claimed that on June 18 about 270 Indian troops entered more than 100 metres into the Chinese territory to “obstruct the road building of the Chinese side, causing tension in the area”. It added that over 400 people at one point put up three tents and advanced over 180 metres into the Chinese territory and now at the end of July, there were still over 40 Indian border troops and one bulldozer illegally staying in the Chinese territory, indicating India was gradually withdrawing its troops. It did not make it clear whether this was following talks between Yang and Doval.
However, India refuted claims that it was gradually withdrawing troops and said the strength of its soldiers remains the same since the face-off began on June 16. Rejecting the statement, sources said the troops are maintaining the same distance with the Chinese soldiers there as it was on Day 1. It is learnt at least 300 to 350 Indian soldiers are now in a face-off situation with the Chinese and the distance between the two is about 150 metres. Status quo prevails, they said.
Officials added both the sides are “cautious”, saying the Indian commanders have taken measures to ensure that “animosity should not rise to that level that we point guns at each other.” Moreover, no movement in terms of build-up by the Chinese post stand-off was noticed, they said.
As regards China claim that only three Indian Army tents were sill pitched at least 180 metres inside the Chinese territory, sources said the face-off area was now a tented colony. More than ten tents with a capacity of housing at least ten soldiers in each tent were still there with proper logistical lines, including food.
The stand-off location is about 13,000 to 14,000 feet and at present, it is raining there and the temperature is hovered at about six to seven degrees. Officials said the troops were well-equipped to sustain themselves there.