New Delhi: The Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in India, Li Ya, has in a statement claimed that there was “no substance” to India’s claim that the Doklam area belongs to Bhutan. Li Ya further claims that China had “many old records” to prove that Doklam belonged to China.
In a video issued by the Chinese Embassy of a briefing by Li Ya on the latest development in Doklam area, the counsellor states that for resolving the stand-off between both armies, India would need to withdraw its troops “unconditionally” and with “immediate effect” as a precondition for any meaningful dialogue between India and China.
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“I have been to the India-China and Bhutan-China border area many times and have first-hand knowledge about Doklam… the section is delimited by the convention between China and Great Britain relating to Tibet and Sikkim in 1890. In essence, China’s territorial sovereignty has been undermined by the Indian troops,” said Li Ya.
“Based on my knowledge, work on the India-China and China-Bhutan boundary affairs in the past decade, I would like to say that India’s positions and claims are groundless. We have strong evidence to prove that Doklam belongs to China. The area has always been the traditional pasture for Chinese border inhabitants,” the counsellor added.
Attempting to prove his point that Doklam belonged to China, Li Ya claimed that archives of the Xizang autonomous region still retained some receipts of the grass tax being paid by Bhutanese herdsmen.
“Since Doklam is a part of Chinese territory, activities conducted by China in the area are within our sovereignty. It is the Indian side that has trespassed into Chinese territory and changed the status quo. This is not acceptable to China. Indian troops must pull back immediately and unconditionally,” said Li Ya.
The stand-off between the Indian and Chinese militaries was triggered when the Indian Army blocked the construction of a road by China in the Doklam area.
Doka La is a pass in India which adjoins the Doklam plateau in Bhutan. China is also embroiled in a dispute with Bhutan over Dokalam.
Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the area. Bhutan, however, has no diplomatic ties with China and it is supported militarily and diplomatically by India.
India on June 30 expressed deep concern over China constructing the road in the disputed area and said it had conveyed to Beijing that such an action would represent a significant change of status quo with “serious” security implications for India.
India has pushed in more troops in a “non-combative mode” to strengthen its position in the area. This is the longest standoff between the two armies since 1962. The last one, which carried on for 21 days, occurred at Daulat Beg Oldie in the Ladakh division of Jammu and Kashmir in 2013, when Chinese troops entered 30 km into Indian territory till the Depsang Plains and claimed it to be a part of its Xinjiang province.
Source: News18