'Status Quo Not Altered At Doklam', India Rubbishes Media Reports Suggesting Chinese Presence

Amid reports of existing tension in the Doklam region, the government on Thursday reiterated that the situation at the face-off site still remains the same. Rubbishing all the media reports indicating thick presence of Chinese army at the site, Ministry of External Affairs said the "the status quo has not been altered and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate and mischievous."

"Our attention has been drawn to some reports that question the accuracy of the position stated by the government in respect to the situation in Doklam," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

He said that in response to repeated questions about any change in the status quo at the face-off site, the government has stated that there was no basis for such imputations.

Kumar's remarks come in the wake of media reports about China carrying out some infrastructure development in the disputed region.

"Last year a face-off situation that had arisen in the Doklam region, which was resolved following diplomatic discussions between India and China, based on which both sides arrived at an understanding for the disengagement of their border personnel at the face-off site," said MEA.

Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before "disengaging" on August 28. 

An article by Col (retd) Vinayak Bhat on Thursday cited satellite images to show that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had set up concrete posts, seven helipads, new trenches and several dozen armoured vehicles close to the point where Indian and Chinese troops were at loggerheads for more than 70 days last year.

The report came days after Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat said the time had come for India to shift focus to its northern border. Amid aggressive Chinese efforts to increase its influence in the region, the Army chief said India cannot allow its neighbours to drift away to China. He also said there had been a “major reduction” in Chinese troops at the Doklam plateau region on Sikkim-Bhutan border.

Army Chief Bipin Rawat had yesterday said border forces of India and China were holding regular exchange and the earlier "bonhomie" has returned.

Congress leaders had today targeted the government following some reports that the Chinese army was engaged in more build- up around the region.

With Agency Inputs