Withdraw troops before talks: China to India over border standoff

July 06, 2017 10:41

Amidst the ongoing tension between India and China over the Sikkim border issue, the political counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in India, Li Ya, has suggested India to withdraw its troops from Doklam before peace talks between the two sides.

"As far as solution is concerned, the Indian troops must pull back to Indian side of the boundary unconditionally and immediately. This is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India," said Li, in a video issued by the Chinese Embassy, over the border standoff between the two sides.

He claimed there was no support to India's claim that the Doklam area belong to Bhutan, adding that China has strong evidence to prove that Doklam belongs to them.

"We have strong evidence to prove that Doklam belongs to China. Doklam has always been the traditional pasture for Chinese border inhabitants. Archives of Xi Zang Autonomous Region still retain some receipts of the grass tax paid by Bhutanese herdsmen. Today, the Chinese border troops still patrol there and the herdsmen graze their livestock there, and production and living facilities have been built there," he explained.

"As to changing status quo, since Doklam is part of Chinese territory, activities conducted by China in Doklam are within China's sovereignty," he added.

Li alleged that it was the Indian side that had trespassed into Chinese territory on June 18 and changed the status quo, triggering a close range face-off.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Arms, ammunition found in CBI raid in Bengal's Sandeshkhali

The CBI during its probe got inputs of a large cache of arms hidden in Sandeshkhali. On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, the officials said.

IPL 2024 too much in batters' favour: Ganguly

'...that's one area that needs to be looked at in the future, the balance between bat and ball.'

Govt directs CBSE to plan twice-a-year board exams from 2025

The ministry and the Central Board of Secondary Education will hold consultations with school principals next month for conducting board exams twice a year, the sources said.

Why Axar is a certainty in the T20 WC squad

'You should have the ability to strike the ball. You don't have to have time for technique in T20 cricket. But your basics should be there and he's always had that.'

EC books Tejasvi Surya for seeking votes on grounds of religion

A case was booked against Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on a social media platform and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Election Commission said on...