EXCLUSIVE China defends Doklam patrol after reports of its troops' deployments
China on Friday said there was "no dispute" about its claims to Doklam and that it had "always" patrolled the area, amid reports that Beijing was beefing up its deployments.
In Short
- Beijing: No dispute Donglang [as China calls Doklam] has always been our territory.
- New Delhi stepped in to stop China from extending a road deep into Doklam.
- The 72-day-long Doklam standoff, which began in June, ended on August 28.
China on Friday said there was "no dispute" about its claims to Doklam and that it had "always" patrolled the area, amid reports that Beijing was beefing up its deployments .
The Chinese Foreign Ministry told India Today on Friday, "There is no dispute that Donglang [as China calls Doklam] has always been a part of China's territory, and always under China's effective and valid administration."
India and Bhutan, however, see a roughly 89 sq km area in the plateau that abuts the India-China-Bhutan trijunction as Bhutanese territory.
While India has not objected to Chinese patrolling, which has taken place in the past, New Delhi stepped in to stop China from extending a road deep into Doklam, close to the Indian border in June.
This led to a 72-day-long stand-off, with both sides agreeing to disengage only on August 28, after India withdrew its troops and China removed its bulldozers and construction equipment.
Since then, reports have said China has moved towards beefing up its presence in the region and has retained several hundred troops in Doklam.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday defended its patrols, but did not comment on its future road construction plans.
"The Chinese troops of border defence have always been patrolling in Donglang to protect their territorial rights, according to the relevant border treaties and agreements", the ministry added.
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