China silent over Rawat’s remark

Beijing: China on Tuesday skirted a direct response to Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks that there was a major reduction of Chinese troops in Doklam, but insisted that its soldiers stationed in the area were exercising “sovereignty rights”.

China on Tuesday skirted a direct response to Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks that there was a major reduction of Chinese troops in Dokalam, but insisted that its soldiers stationed in the area were exercising “sovereignty rights.”

China and India were engaged in a 73- day tense standoff at Dokalam in the Sikkim sector which ended on August 28.

“The Dong Lang ( Dokalam) area has all along been part of China and under China’s continuous and effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told the media when asked about Gen. Rawat’s remarks.

Gen. Rawat on Monday said Indian and Chinese troops had resolved an issue over the recent attempt by Chinese teams to build a road on the Indian side of the border at Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh. Gen. Rawat also said there was a major reduction of Chinese troops in the Doklam area.

“Chinese border troops patrolling and stationing in the Dong Lang area are exercising sovereignty rights in accordance with the stipulations of historical conventions and upholding territorial sovereignty,” Mr Lu said, without commenting on the troop reduction.

Mr Lu also did not directly refer to Rawat’s comment that India and China have sorted out the issue relating to the plans of Chinese troops to construct a road well into the Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mr Lu, however, reiterated China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing says is part of South Tibet. “I need to reiterate that there is a huge dispute on the eastern section of the China-India boundary,” Mr Lu said.