India pitches for diplomatic route to resolve Doklam issue
India on Thursday made a renewed pitch for a “peaceful resolution” of the Doklam standoff with China through diplomatic channels, insisting that differences should not become disputes. The assertion by New Delhi came on a day China said diplomatic channels remained “unimpeded” to discuss the issue provided India withdraws its troops from Doklam.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay told reporters that India has been in “close contact” with the Bhutan government on the unfolding developments, noting that diplomatic channels to resolve the issue with China have not broken off.
Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said China intends to unilaterally change the status of the tri-junction with Bhutan, posing a challenge to India’s security. On the standoff at Doklam, she referred to the written agreement between India, China and Bhutan in 2012 that the three nations will together decide on the boundaries at the tri-junction point.
The minister said China had been constructing roads earlier too, but now they have brought in bulldozers and excavators.
“We are saying that the matter could be resolved through talks, but both sides have to first take back their armies,” she said.
The minister also said India was not “unreasonable” on the Doklam border issue and that all nations were with it.
Observing that China was demanding the withdrawal of the Indian troops from the trijunction point, she said India has been saying that both countries would have to withdraw their armies before amicably resolving the dispute through talks.
Swaraj said “their (China’s) intention was to reach the trijunction so that they could unilaterally end the status of the tri-junction. It was only then that India came into the picture.
“If China unilaterally changes the tri-junction point, then India’s security is challenged,” she said, adding Bhutan has protested in writing to China on this issue.
Swaraj said “all countries are supporting us and they understand that the stand taken by India on the issue is not wrong” as they realise that China is getting aggressive with Bhutan. “India’s position is not wrong on the tri-junction and all nations are with it. The law is with our country and all are realising this,” she said.