China has released a map to back its claim that Indian troops “transgressed” into the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector, which it asserts is part of its territory, PTI reported on Sunday. The map released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry shows a blue arrow with markings in Chinese that points at where Indian troops allegedly entered the area.
The map shows Doklam as part of Chinese territory. Beijing claims that the Indian Army had entered the area to prevent the People’s Liberation Army of China from building a strategic road there.
The map is in addition to two photographs released on Thursday that show Indian troops allegedly on the Chinese side of the border. During a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang displayed the photographs of the Indian “incursion” into the area.
Later, the ministry uploaded the photographs on its website. While one photo showed two bulldozers said to be the Indian military’s, another showed one bulldozer. A red line in the photos was marked “Chinese side of the border”.
On Friday, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La pass in Sikkim was cancelled amid the continuing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops on the border.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry had on Wednesday lodged a diplomatic complaint with both New Delhi and Beijing about India’s alleged incursions into Chinese territory. India and China have also deployed around 3,000 troops each on the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction. New Delhi has also made it clear that it will not allow China to construct a motorable road till the tri-junction through the Bhutanese territory of Doklam plateau.
Meanwhile, Bhutan has also lodged a protest with China, asserting that the area is part of its territory and China’s move violates the 1988 and 1998 agreements between the two countries.
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