Be clear not to change status quo in Doklam: Indian envoy to China

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ The military stand-off at Doklam was a “momentary hurdle” in Sino-India ties but maintaining status quo in the border areas is essential for both countries, India’s Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale has said.

In an interview, the newly appointed envoy touched upon various aspects of bilateral ties and said Beijing needs to be “sensitive” to New Delhi’s concerns over issues like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Bambawale said that post-Doklam, India and China need to talk more and be candid with each other. He stressed both countries were not “rivals.” “I look at the Doklam stand-off from such a long-term perspective. When you do so, the Doklam stand-off is just one event in a much longer-term history,” the envoy told the English daily, which is run by the Communist Party of China.

“I believe that you are blowing it out of proportion. The people of India and China and our leaders are experienced enough and wise enough to overcome such momentary hurdles in our relationship,” Bambawale said. China and India were locked in a worst-in-decades military stand-off at Doklam last year in the Sikkim section of their border.