Chinese media warns India not to underestimate Beijing's resolve to defend territorial sovereignty

Beijing [China] August 7 (ANI): State-run media in China has once again warned India not to underestimate Beijing's resolve to defend its territorial sovereignty. An editorial appearing in the People's Daily said Indian troops crossing into Chinese territory is totally illegal. The daily also warned India that China is taking "all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests." The comment came after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), on August 2, published an official document giving its side of the story, entitled "The Facts and China's Position Concerning the Indian Border Troops' Crossing of the China-India Boundary in the Sikkim Sector into the Chinese Territory" It alleged that Indian border troops, after "illegally crossing the border" on June 18, were illegally staying in Chinese territory. Further stressing on the established boundary between India and China, the paper termed India's alleged crossing the border to be "reckless and rude." The report read, "It is universally recognized that once a boundary is established by a convention, it will come under particular protection by international law, the commentary noted, stressing that the China-India boundary in Sikkim sector is delimited by the 1890 Convention between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet." The daily cited a convention signed between Britain and China, in 1890, relating to Sikkim and Tibet and said that according to that convention, Doklam was indisputably Chinese territory. The article however admits that Chinese and Indian sides have been in discussion on making the boundary in the Sikkim Sector an "early harvest" in the settlement of the entire boundary question during the meetings between the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question, but pointed out at the same time that this is mainly in view of a series of considerations. It explained that the boundary in the Sikkim Sector has long been delimited by the 1890 Convention, which was signed between then China and Great Britain. China and India ought to sign a new boundary convention in their own names to replace the 1890 Convention. The Convention also describes the alignment of the boundary in the sector, said the article, and delineates that the actual boundary on the ground follows the watershed and its alignment is easily identifiable. The report further says that after the foundation of the Indian independence and the People's Republic of China, the governments of both countries inherited "the 1890 Convention and the delimited China-India boundary in the Sikkim Sector as established by the Convention." Adding, each of the two sides has for a long time exercised jurisdiction over its side of the boundary delimited by the 1890 Convention without any dispute over the specific alignment of the boundary. The article further denied the justification put forward by India for "the actions" and termed the latter's "security concerns" to be "ill-founded. "If India insists on this kind of logic, how can it get along peacefully with its neighboring countries?" the report questioned and stressed India's claims regarding Doklam (Doklam is a disputed area between China and Bhutan) is "against the truth and the law." The daily even alleged that "India's intrusion" is "a severe violation of the UN Charter and its behavior has formed an international delinquency." The People's Daily said this does not alter the nature of the boundary in the Sikkim Sector as having already been delimited and should not be used as India's excuse for illegal trespass, the article continued. The stability and inviolability of boundaries is a fundamental principle enshrined in international law, it further pointed out. It is clear and definite that India's crossing is illegal, the article emphasized. Since the incident occurred, China has sought to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the incident. But no country should ever underestimate the resolve of the Chinese government and people to defend China's territorial sovereignty, the commentary stressed. (ANI)