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July 25, 2017

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India warned over troops incursion

Source: Xinhua | 00:01 UTC+8 July 25, 2017 | Print Edition

INDIA has been urged to immediately withdraw all troops that have illegally entered China, with a defense ministry spokesman stating that China would defend its territorial sovereignty “at all costs.”

“The Chinese border troops have taken initial counter measures at the site and will step up targeted deployment and training,” Wu Qian told a press conference.

Indian troops crossed the China-India boundary into Chinese territory in mid-June to obstruct road construction in the Doklam region, he said.

Wu urged India to immediately withdraw its troops, describing the request as a prerequisite to resolving the situation.

The spokesman called for a joint effort to maintain peace in the border area and warned India to abandon any impractical illusions.

He said the history of the People’s Liberation Army over the past 90 years demonstrated its increasing capacities and its unshakable determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“It’s easier to shake a mountain than the People’s Liberation Army,” Wu said.

After Indian border troops crossed into China’s Doklam region last month, the two sides’ troops then confronted each other close to a Chinese valley that separates India from Bhutan.

“India should not leave things to luck and not harbor any unrealistic illusions,” Wu said.

“We strongly urge India to take practical steps to correct its mistake, cease provocations, and meet China halfway in jointly safeguarding the border region’s peace and tranquillity,” he said.

Speaking later, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said there had been no territorial dispute in the area.

He said: “It is right to say that territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully,” but added that such a saying was not applicable to the current situation as there had been no territorial dispute at the site where the incident took place.

The stand-off on the plateau next to the mountainous Indian state of Sikkim, which borders China, raised tensions between the neighbors. The Sikkim section of the China-India boundary has been demarcated, which is recognized by both China and India, Lu said.

The trespass of Indian border troops took place at the defined Sikkim section of the China-India boundary, Lu said.

It was different in nature from previous frictions and stand-offs between the two sides at undefined sections, he said.

“China is willing to maintain peace and stability of the China-India boundary, but China will not make compromises regarding sovereignty,” he said.

Lu said the Indian side was fully to blame for the incident, and urged it to avoid any escalation of the situation.

Ajit Doval, India’s national security adviser, is attending a meeting in Beijing this week of security officials from the BRICS group of nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

And Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit China in early September for a summit of BRICS leaders.

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