BEIJING – China has reiterated its calls for India to withdraw troops from a disputed territory in the Himalayan mountains, to avoid an “escalation of the situation.” It comes after China recently staged live-fire drills in the region.
India should not use “trespass” into the Doklam area in the Sikkim sector as a “policy tool” to achieve its “political targets”, China said.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang urged India to withdraw its troops from the area near the Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese borders.
“We have stated many times that we hope the Indian side will get a clear understanding of the situation (and) immediately take measures to withdraw the troops that illegally crossed the border back to the Indian side of the border,” Lu said, as quoted by the Chinese media.
He went on to state that Indian troops must withdraw before any talks can take place over the disputed territory.
China and Indian ally Bhutan have been locked in a standoff over the territory at the tri-junction of the three countries’ borders for decades.
Tensions between China and India – which backs Bhutan’s territorial claims – intensified on June 16, when Chinese teams began building a road at the disputed Doklam Plateau, which India says is Bhutanese soil.
