Post disengagement from the face-off in 2017, troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the face-off site, says Nirmala Sitharaman
China is undertaking projects for the development of infrastructure facilities in several countries and has been developing ports and other infrastructure facilities in the region, the government informed Parliament on Monday.
"Government is aware of China's stated objective of becoming a maritime power," the Ministry of Defence said in a reply to a parliament question.
Answering another question on whether satellite images have revealed that China has constructed seven helipads in Doklam besides deploying tanks and missiles in the area, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Indian and Chinese troops have "redeployed" themselves away from the face-off site in Doklam, and China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel there.
"Post disengagement from the face-off in 2017, troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the face-off site. The strength of both sides have been reduced," she said replying to a question on the issue in Rajya Sabha.
"In order to maintain these troops during the winter, People's Liberation Army (PLA) has undertaken construction of some infrastructure, including sentry posts, trenches and helipads," she said.
Last week, junior Defence Minister Subhash Bhamre had said that the situation along India's border with China is "sensitive" and it has the potential to escalate.
On whether India has taken up the matter with China, she said issues relating to the border are regularly taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels and at Border Personnel Meetings, flag meetings and meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.
Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a 73-day standoff in Doklam from June 16 as India resisted to the building of a road by the Chinese Army falling in the disputed a in Bhutan.
The face-off ended on August 28. China continued to keep its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area.
In January, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Doklam")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}