Kathmandu, August 28
Hinting that India and China are heading towards a peaceful solution of the military standoff at Doklam, India has said it has agreed with China for an “expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site.”
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday says the two neighbours have maintained diplomatic communications over the tussle in recent weeks.
“During these communications, we were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests,” the MEA statement reads.
Meanwhile, Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said Chinese troops would continue to patrol the Doklam region.
“China will continue to exercise sovereignty rights to protect territorial sovereignty in accordance with the rules of the historical boundary,” she said.
The move comes ahead of the Brics summit, which will be attended by leaders from five countries, including PM Narendra Modi, in the Chinese city of Xiamen in early September. It also comes before a crucial 19th party congress in China where Xi Jinping expects to be “cleared” for another five years, after which he will choose the core group of leaders who will rule China, also for the next five years.
India and China had been keeping diplomatic channels open ever since the border dispute started on June 16, in what’s called the tri-junction area at Doklam. There were speculations that the two countries could even go to war over the issue.
