All countries are with India, Sushma tells Parliament on Indo-China standoff
July 20, 2017  13:01
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On day 4 of the monsoon session of Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed the Rajya Sabha on the continuing standoff with China on the trijunction of Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet at Doklam.

Swaraj said all nations agree that India's stance is right. "All countries are with India. India is equipped to defend itself. It is wrong to say India is (feels) threatened. The threat is only if China changes the tri-junction status quo. We are willing to talk but both sides should take back their armies to their original position," Swaraj said.

The continued military standoff at the tri-junction has led to speculation about the possibilities for confidence building measures, diplomatic intervention, or even conventional or sub-conventional skirmishes between India and China.

On China's One Belt One Road, Swaraj said, "Aise hi pata chala ki OBOR mein CPEC ko dal rahe hain, ussi samay virodh darj kiya gaya tha. We registered our protest the moment we heard of OBOR at the CEPC. We are not being unreasonable with China."

India has expressed concern over the road construction near the Doklam plateau, fearing it may allow Chinese troops to cut Indias access to its northeastern states.

It has conveyed to China that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.

The Chinese action has led to a month-long military standoff.

Of the 3,488-km-long border India shares with China from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.

 
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