China again stakes claim to Doklam

Donglong (Dokalam) belongs to China... Last year thanks to our concerted efforts and our wisdom we properly resolved this issue. We hope the Indian side could learn some lessons from this. HUA CHUNYING, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson

BEIJING: China asserted on Monday that Doklam belongs to it and India should have “learnt lessons” from the stand-off last year, days after India’s envoy blamed China for the face-off, saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the “status quo” in the disputed area.

Reacting to India’s Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “Donglong (Dokalam) belongs to China because we have historical conventions.”

“China’s activities there are within our sovereign rights. There is no such thing as changing status quo,” she said at a media briefing in Beijing.

“Last year thanks to our concerted efforts and our wisdom we properly resolved this issue. We hope the Indian side could learn some lessons from this and stick to the historical conventions and work with China to ensure the atmosphere in the border areas is conducive for the development of bilateral ties,” she said.

The India’s envoy in an interview to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had blamed China for the stand-off in Doklam saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the “status quo” which it should not have.

He had said that any change of status quo along the India-china border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis.

He said that though “no change” has taken place in the standoff site at Dokalam after it was resolved last year, the PLA may be reinforcing its troops “well behind the sensitive area”.

Asked about Bambawale’s comments that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) should be demarcated and delineated, the foreign ministry spokesperson said on the delimitation China’s position is clear and consistent.

“The east, middle and western side is yet to be officially demarcated,” she said and added “China and India are exploring ways to resolve this territorial dispute through negotiations so that we can arrive at mutually acceptable solution.”