India, China should resolve border differences in a calm way: Beijing

BEIJING: China on Monday defended its military infrastructure build up in Doklam and claimed that the area falls within its sovereign territory.

Commenting on Indian envoy to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to state-run Chinese daily 'The Global Times' where he said the status quo should not be changed along the sensitive areas of the 3,488-km border, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that differences can be addressed through existing mechanisms.

"I believe that you are blowing it (Doklam standoff) out of proportion. I believe that in the post-Doklam period, India and China need to be talking to each other and conversing with each other much more than in the past at different levels including at the leadership level," Bambawale had told the daily.

India and China ended the 73-day standoff on August 28 last year at Doklam area after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stopped building a strategic road close to India's narrow Chicken's Neck area connecting the northeastern states.

"Indeed, we have noted that the ambassador talked about it while addressing the issue," Hua said when asked about the Indian envoy's remarks.

"The two sides should look at border issues in a calm way and resolve relevant issues through the existing border related mechanisms so that we can create conditions and enabling environment to properly solve our differences," she said.

Besides a mechanism to discuss border tensions, India and China also have special representative-level border talks to resolve the differences over disputed border.

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China stretches to 3,488km. The two sides held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the border issues.

Hua reiterated China's stand that Doklam, which is also claimed by Bhutan, is very much its territory.

"I should stress that it (area) falls within China's sovereignty and we conduct facility building in Dong Long (Doklam) area," Hua responded when asked about the satellite images which showed new Chinese military facilities at Doklam.

"The Sikkim section of the China-India boundary has been demarcated by historic treaty as under effective jurisdiction of China," she said.

China claims that the Sikkim section of the boundary is resolved under the 1890 treaty between UK and China.

"China has always upheld our sovereignty along the border area including (Dong Long) Doklam," she said.

"Some Indian media has carried reports about the military build up and infrastructure building in the (Doklam) area. They are very excited about it," she said.

Asked about the local commanders' meeting held on the Republic Day during which they exchanged pleasantries, Hua said, "the local military personnel and border troops of the two sides held a meeting on India's Republic Day."

"We think this is conducive to enhance mutual trust and upholding peace and stability along the border areas. We are also willing to enhance our communication and cooperation to better safeguard the security there and to create a better environment in this regard," she said.

The meetings were the first since Doklam standoff. Chinese military personnel skipped such meetings on the Independence Day last year.