Doklam standoff enters third month; China asks India to withdraw

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ China on Wednesday again told India to pull back its troops from Doklam where the standoff between their armies entered the third month. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated Beijing’s stance, asking India to withdraw troops from Doklam in the Sikkim sector.

On June 16, the Indian Army stopped the Chinese PLA from building a road in Doklam, leading to the face-off. Doklam, in the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, is claimed by Beijing and Thimphu.

“As for the trespass of Indian troops in Doklam area, China’s position is firm and consistent – that is Indian border troops must be withdrawn unconditionally and this is a precondition for any meaningful talks between the two sides,” Hua said.

India has said it is ready to pull back troops if China does so too, an offer Beijing has outright rejected. This is the longest military standoff between India and China after 1987 when both sides faced-off in Somordong Chu valley in Arunachal Pradesh. The latest crisis has plunged ties between the two countries to a new low.