Indian Army said it is ready for a long haul in the standoff with China in Sikkim sector.
Highlights
- India, China locked in a standoff over Doklam in Sikkim sector
- Indian soldiers deployed in the Doklam area have pitched tents
- A steady line of supplies is being maintained for the soldiers at the sit
The Indian Army is ready for a long haul in holding onto its position in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction, notwithstanding China ratcheting up rhetoric against India demanding pulling back of its troops.
Indian soldiers deployed in the area have pitched in tents, in an indication that they are unlikely to retreat unless there was reciprocity from China's army personnel in ending the face-off at an altitude of around 10,000 feet in the Sikkim sector.
A steady line of supplies is being maintained for the soldiers at the site, official sources said, signalling that the Indian Army is not going to wilt under any pressure from China. At the same time they sounded confident of finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff, citing resolution of border skirmishes in the past through diplomacy.
Though China has been aggressively asserting that it was not ready for any "compromise" and that the "ball is in India's court", the view in the security establishment in New Delhi is that there cannot be any unilateral approach in defusing the tension. Both the countries had agreed to a mechanism in 2012 to resolve border flare ups through consultations at various levels.
The mechanism has not worked so far in the current case in Sikkim sector as the standoff near the Bhutan tri-junction, triggered by China's attempt to build a road in the strategically important area, has dragged on for over three weeks.
New Delhi has already conveyed to Beijing that such an action would represent a significant change of status quo with "serious" security implications for India. The road link could give China a major military advantage over India.
Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.
China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. India argues that since it is a tri-junction involving the three countries, it also has a say in the issue, specially in the backdrop of the 2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries, that have till now held 19 rounds of talks.
Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. As a close friend and neighbour, Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.
Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.