China seeks ‘meaningful dialogue’ with India over border row in Sikkim

The Indian Army blocked construction of a road by China in Doklam in Sikkim.

China sought a “meaningful dialogue” with India over the border row in the Sikkim sector on Friday and asked it to withdraw its troops from Doklam, insisting that Beijing has “indisputable sovereignty” over the area.

Chinese army officers oversee preparations as they stand on the Chinese side of the international border at Nathula Pass, in Sikkim, Wednesday, July 5, 2006. (AP)

“Diplomatic channels are unimpeded between India and China for talks on the standoff in Sikkim,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

“The pressing issue is to have a meaningful dialogue for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Doklam area in Sikkim sector,” he said.

A standoff erupted between the two militaries after the Indian Army blocked construction of the road by China in Doklam, a disputed territory between China and Bhutan also known as Donglong.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.

Lu also refuted Bhutan’s allegation that China violated agreements by constructing a road inside its territory.

In a strongly worded statement, Bhutan had also asked China to stop constructing the motorable road from Dokola in the Doklam area towards the Bhutan Army camp at Zompelri which it says affects the process of demarcating the boundary between the two countries.

But Lu said China had “indisputable sovereignty over the Doklam area.”