China showing 'great restraint' along Doklam border: Chinese Defense Ministry

Beijing [China], August 4 (ANI): Chinese Defense Ministry has said that the country's military is showing "great restraint" regarding alleged Indian incursion into its Donglang (Doklam) area. The Ministry also reiterated its call to India to immediately pull back troops to the Indian side of the border. "The military have exercised "great restraint on the issue to maintain the two country's relation and regional peace and security. But goodwill does not mean no principle, restraint does not mean no bottom line," China Daily quoted Spokesperson of Chinese Defense Ministry Ren Guoqiang as saying. He claimed that China has shown utmost goodwill and sought to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the border standoff. Ren alleged that India has seriously undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He suggested India to abandon its fantasy of expecting change by stalling the situation. "No country should underestimate the Chinese military's confidence and capability in protecting peace, nor should they underestimate its determination and will to protect China's sovereignty, security and development interest," he said. Earlier, China had emphatically rejected India's interference in its ongoing boundary dispute with Bhutan in the Doklam area and again urged New Delhi to withdraw unconditionally and end the nearly two-month long stand-off. "The China-Bhutan boundary issue is one between China and Bhutan. It has nothing to do with India. As a third party, India has no right to interfere in or impede the boundary talks between China and Bhutan, still less the right to make territorial claims on Bhutan's behalf," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. China alleged that India's intrusion into its territory under the pretext of defending Bhutan's territorial claims, has not only violated Beijing's territorial sovereignty, but also challenged Bhutan's sovereignty and independence. Indian and Chinese troops continue to be locked in a standoff in Doklam and both sides have moved additional troops, ammunition and military equipment to the area. The stand-off emerged after Chinese troops were stopped by the Indian Army from constructing roads along the Doklam border. India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China. Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle. It also alleged that the Indian troops had crossed the Sikkim sector of the Indo-China border. Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet. (ANI)