India pushes for talks to resolve China border dispute

By Shuriah Niazi

New Delhi (AA) – India is pushing for talks to resolve a recent border-standoff with China -- something that China says is impossible until India withdraws troops from its northeastern Sikkim border.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ruled out on Thursday the opposition’s demand to step up military presence at the tri-junction border it shares with Bhutan and China.

"War is never the solution to a dispute. Wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically. We're not only negotiating over Doklam [the Sikkim border], but discussing bilateral relations with China as well. This is the only solution,” she said as she addressed the upper house of the Parliament.

Indian troops have been stationed at the border near its mountainous Sikkim state, for more than a month.

China’s defense ministry in a strongly worded statement released late Thursday asked India to "immediately withdraw its trespassing troops" from the border.

“China has shown utmost goodwill and sought to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the incident. However, goodwill has its principles and restraint has its bottom line,” said Ren Guoqiang, spokesman for the ministry.

He added: “No country should underestimate the Chinese forces’ confidence and capability to safeguard peace and their resolve and willpower to defense national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

- India met Chinese president

The Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, but it did not yield any positive results.

The stand-off began in mid-June when India opposed the construction of road by China at the border, which it claimed fell in its territory.

On a request by it friendly neighbor Bhutan, India called troops on the border.

Since then New Delhi has accused Beijing of trying to change the status of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, and ruled out unilateral withdrawal of Indian troops.

Both nuclear powers have had border disputes in the past.

Indian experts believe what really angered Beijing is New Delhi’s refusal to sign a massive plan to build a network of railways, ports and roads to connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“What we see this time is that China has been aggressive. But the response from India has been on the expected lines. India is clear about its position,” said Pranay Upadhyay, a defense commentator.

Phunchok Stobdan, senior fellow with the Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA), an author and a former diplomat said that the standoff will be resolved peacefully through diplomatic intervention.

“The speedy slowing down of the [Chinese] economy could be impacting Xi’s position. There are serious fault lines in China ahead of the 19th party congress to be held in November,” he said.

“If we are to draw a linkage between these fissures inside China with the stand-off, Xi may well be keeping the border face-off on the boil at least to neutralize his dissents in the party and the People's Liberation Army ranks.”

The Chinese-Indian border is 3,500 kilometer (2174.8 miles) long, of which the border with Sikkim is just 220 km (136 mi). This small length has remained terse since the 1960s with occasional skirmishes reported on both sides.