China builds road in Sikkim, says 'on our side of the border'


Beijing, Jun 28 (PTI): China has justified the construction of a road in the Sikkim sector, saying the area “undoubtedly” is located on its side of the border as per the 1890 Sino-British Treaty.

“According to the treaty, ‘zhe’ is the ancient name of Sikkim,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement.

“As per this treaty, the area over which the Indian Army has raised objection is undoubtedly located on the Chinese side of the border,” he said on Tuesday.

The statement came a day after the Chinese military accused the Indian army of stopping the construction of the road in what it claims to be China’s “sovereign territory” in the Sikkim section of the India-China border.

Lu said the Sikkim segment of the China-India border was recognised by both China and India.

“Indian leaders, the Indian government-related documents, the Indian side in the Sino-Indian boundary issue Special Representatives meeting confirmed that the two sides signed the treaty in 1890, the ‘Sino-British treaty’ and the China- India boundary of Sikkim to have the direction of a consensus,” he said.

“Compliance with these treaties and documents is an international obligation that not to be shirked by the Indian side,” he added.

A Chinese foreign ministry statement, issued on Monday night, said “the Indian border guards crossed the boundary in the Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered the territory of China and obstructed normal activities of the Chinese frontier forces in the Donglang area recently, and the Chinese side has taken counter-measures.”

Lu, earlier on Tuesday, said China lodged a diplomatic protest with India accusing Indian troops of “crossing the boundary” in the Sikkim section and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

He also asserted that China has shut the Nathu La pass entry for Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar because of the border standoff.

A hard-hitting article posted on the website of the state-run Global Times on the issue said, “Indian troops’ provocation brings disgrace to themselves” and they should be forced to retreat “by all necessary means”.

“The Indian government made no objection to the Sikkim section of the China-India border. Allegations of intrusions along the western section of the China-India border often emerge, but face-offs in the Sikkim section are rare. The Nathu La pass in Sikkim was reopened in 2006, because there is no border dispute between China and India over this area,” it said.

“It remains unclear whether this flare-up is the fault of low-level Indian troops or a tentative strategic move made by the Indian government,” it said.

“Whatever the motive is, China must stick to its bottom line. It must force the Indian troops to retreat to the Indian side by all means necessary and China’s road construction mustn’t be stopped,” the article said.

As the China-India borderline has not been demarcated completely and the two countries have a different understanding about the Line of Actual Control, troops from both sides often stray across in some areas, it noted.

“However, almost all frictions are fed to the Indian media by the Indian military which they hype time and again”.

“China avoids making an issue of the border disputes, which has indulged India’s unruly provocations. This time the Indian side needs to be taught the rules,” the article said.

“India cannot afford a showdown with China on border issues. It lags far behind China in terms of national strength and the so-called strategic support for it from the US is superficial,” the article said, adding that China has no desire to confront India.

“Maintaining friendly ties with New Delhi is Beijing’s basic policy. But this must be based on mutual respect. It’s not time for India to display arrogance toward China,” it said.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Leslie, udupi

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    This is the ploy of China to counter Modi Trump hug...
    Must be a small unimportant road...
    As Henry mentioned...
    If we boycott all Chinese origin products they will oblige and retreat...
    China needs to be massaged hard...
    Not massacred...

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangaluru

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    It is a sad state India is going through. Media is more or less Modi Bhakth, specially the visual one. TOI Journalists ran to Italy to try and implicate UPA on Augusta Westland deal, ran its corruption story for a week, but finally nothing emerged. People are left with the image of corrupt UPA.

    Same Journalists do not even have the courage to verify the story and if true, demand accountability from Modi Govt. This is worse than corruption these channels were running after. People need to wake up, before it is too late.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    Where are Surgical Strike Specialist and Gau rakshaks?????????

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    every Indian should stop buying Chinese products strictly. Also boycott China made cell phones sold by our online stores... This the best opportunity to launch the Agni-6...only one decision will rattle and unsettle the communist Dragon.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    Go and ask Britain, you signed an agreement with them.This land belongs to us and not to Britain. We did not sign anything with you and we are not party to any other agreement regarding this. So back off or face consequences.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    It is only in yesterday's mass media we have been told 'important' PM. Chinese are building road on Indian side.In transgression few days earlier destroyed Indian side of bunkers.
    Pakistani crossed half mile killed two soldiers before being withdrawn to their own side.

    Lawyer turned politician Jaitley who is also additional incharge of defence has no clues of India's geography other than Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi still wondering through demonetisation debacle.
    PM Modi's India has 'zero tolerance' on Pakistani aggression is silent on Chinese aggression? Why PM Modi has not discussed this issue with Chinese premier in recent discussion?
    Do we really have 'important' or 'impotent Pradhan sevak to defend our sovereignty of this nation?
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • A.Quadros, Kundapur

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    Now one more reason for Mr. Modi to go for yet another universal trip to convince world leaders to isolate China and declare it as a terrorist state.
    Good we have a NRI PM. at tax payers cost.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • MN, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    Hope NaMo is not like Jawahar. Otherwise yester "Himalayan Blunder" may haunt us as Sikkim blunder..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand Kumar, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    Tell Modi to stop going on tourism and yapping trips. Let him go and thump his 56" chest there at the Sikkim border and fight with real men and not with a widow and her son. All chaddis and bhakts ordered to the Chinese border! Take burnol also with you.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jun 28 2017

    We will take our RTC & complain to Donald Trump ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: China builds road in Sikkim, says 'on our side of the border'



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.