Doklam belongs to us; India should have learned from the stand-off: China hits out

China on Monday asserted 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 (Doklam) 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 here.

"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.

On Sunday, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India was alert and ready for any unforeseen situation like Doklam. "We are alert & ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity," she told ANI.The Defence Minister had said earlier this month that China was involved in the construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in Doklam.Sitharaman's assurance has come after India's envoy in Beijing cautioned the government that any change of status quo along India- China border may lead to another Doklam like crises.