Border peace must for China ties: India &India may have cut troops in Doklam, claims China:

Border peace must for China ties: India &India may have cut troops in Doklam, claims China:

Context

• The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a 15-page statement, claiming that India has scaled down its forces in Doklam, but demanded that New Delhi pull back all its troops to end the military standoff in the area.

India’s position

• India’s reaction to the detailed 15-page official statement, reiterated Beijing’s claim on the Doklam region, has been upright.
• There has been no reduction in the presence of troops in the Doklam. At least 300 soldiers and 30 tents continued to remain in Doklam.
• India considers peace and tranquility on the border as the “prerequisite” for Bilateral ties.
• India still stand firm about not withdrawing military forces from Doklam.
• India said its forces had intervened in Doklam in the “tradition of maintaining close consultation on matters of mutual interest” with Bhutan.
• China complaints that by the end of July, there were still over 40 Indian border troops and one bulldozer illegally staying in the Chinese territory.
• China pointed out that Indian troop presence in the Doklam, or Dong Lang, area near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction had peaked to 400 personnel at one point.

Events unfolded as per Chinese press

• 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 metres into the Chinese territory to obstruct the road-building, 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 metres into the Chinese territory.
• China claims that they did not cross the boundary in its road-building, and it notified India in advance in full reflection of China’s goodwill.
• The Chinese side reiterated that India must unconditionally pull back its troops, a position Beijing has adopted since the beginning of the crisis.
• The incident took place on the Chinese side of the delimited boundary.
• Therefore, India should immediately and unconditionally withdraw its trespassing border troops back to the Indian side of the boundary, according to Chinese government.
• This is a “prerequisite” and basis for resolving the incident as per Chinese Government.