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Sikkim stand-off: 53 Indian troops currently present at Doklam, says China

According to Indian sources, country is currently in no war, no peace' mode against the Chinese military in Doklam.

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Fifty-three Indian soldiers and a bulldozer were present at the Doklam area, a report in a state-run daily said today, quoting the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The ministry, according to the Global Times, asked India to withdraw its troops and equipment from what it called the "Chinese territory". Citing the ministry, the daily said that 53 people and a bulldozer from the Indian side remain in "Chinese territory" as of Monday. "India should withdraw its troops and equipment...They have gravely infringed on China's sovereignty," the ministry was quoted as having said by the daily.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang last week said that "there were 48 Indian soldiers and one bulldozer" in Doklam area as of August 2. "In addition, there are still a large number of Indian armed forces congregating on the boundary and on the Indian side of the boundary," Geng had said. A 15-page fact sheet issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry had earlier said that there were over 40 Indian border troops and one bulldozer in the area by the July end.

Countering Chinese contention, sources in New Delhi last week maintained that around 350 Indian Army personnel have been in Doklam for last six weeks after China tried to build a road in the area, triggering the standoff. India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector for over 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doklam plateau. Bhutan says Doklam belongs to it but China claims the area belongs to it and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it.

Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. The military standoff between China and India in the Doklam region has lasted for almost two months now, and there is still no end in sight, the Chinese daily added.

India's position on the issue was made clear by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj recently, saying both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff.

'No war, no peace' mode: 

The Indian Army is in a 'no war, no peace' mode against the Chinese military in Doklam and status quo continues in the area, official sources said today. They said there has been no specific movement of troops and weapons by the Indian Army in the area, adding whatever "movement" is taking place is for maintenance purpose.

Asked specifically about reports of sending of troops from the Sukna-based 33 Corps to Dokalam, the sources said there has been no enhancement of army personnel in the India- Bhutan-China trijunction.We are in no war no peace mode in Dokalam, the sources said. In military parlance, no war, no peace mode refers to a confrontation or face-off position with enemies.

India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Dokalam area of the Sikkim sector for 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Dokalam plateau. Bhutan says Dokalam belongs to it but China claims it to be its territory and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it.

 

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