In first winter stay, 1,800 Chinese troops camping at Doklam

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ Around 1,600-1,800 Chinese troops have now virtually established a permanent presence in the Doklam area, near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction, with the construction of two helipads, upgraded roads, scores of pre-fabricated huts, shelters and stores to withstand the freezing winter in the high-altitude region.

Indian security establishment sources said while India “achieved its strategic objective” of not letting China extend its existing road in Doklam southwards towards the Jampheri ridge, the fallout has been “the almost permanent stationing of People’s Liberation Army troops in the region”.

“Earlier, PLA patrols would come to Doklam, which is disputed between China and Bhutan, between April-May and October-November every year to mark their presence and lay claim to the area before going back,” said a source.

“Now, after the 73-day eyeball-to-eyeball troop confrontation at Doklam between India and China ended on August 28, the PLA troops have stayed put in what we consider to be Bhutanese territory for the first time this winter. But the status quo prevails at the earlier face-off site,” he added.