<div align="justify">With India-China military face-off in western Bhutan continuing on its 39th day, New Delhi said that it was committed to finding an “amicable resolution” acceptable to all the three countries.<br /><br />V K Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that India was engaged with China through diplomatic channels to maintain “peace and tranquillity” in accordance with various bilateral agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, protocols and joint statements of 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2012 and 2013.<br /><br />In a written reply to questions from several MPs in the Lok Sabha, Singh said that India was “committed to finding an amicable resolution acceptable to concerned countries”.<br /><br />His comment came even as Beijing indicated that India must withdraw its troops from Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan if it wanted to have “meaningful dialogue” with China.<br /><br />The face-off started on June 18 when Indian Army soldiers from Doka La in Sikkim went to Doklam Plateau along the disputed China-Bhutan border to stop the personnel of Chinese People's Liberation Army from constructing a road, which would have serious security implications for India. The Chinese PLA personnel had started construction of the road two days ago brushing aside protests from the soldiers of Royal Bhutanese Army.<br /><br />Singh informed the Lok Sabha that New Delhi had also conveyed to Beijing that the PLA's actions in Doklam Plateau area amounted to a significant change in the status quo in India.<br /><br />He also informed that the Chinese PLA's move to build the road was “not in consonance with the bilateral understandings reached between India and China under the framework of the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question” since the Doklam (Plateau) area was “directly relevant for determination of the tri-junction point between India, China and Bhutan.<br /><br />The Minister of State for External Affairs also referred to the press-release issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan on June 29. Bhutan, according to the press release, had conveyed to China, both on the ground and through the diplomatic channel, that the construction of the road in its territory was “a direct violation of the agreements between China and Bhutan signed in 1988 and 1998”.<br /><br />Bhutan demanded the restoration of the status quo as it had existed at Doklam Plateau, before the PLA personnel came and started building the road on June 16. India has “maintained constant communication with Bhutan, said Singh.<br /><br /></div>
<div align="justify">With India-China military face-off in western Bhutan continuing on its 39th day, New Delhi said that it was committed to finding an “amicable resolution” acceptable to all the three countries.<br /><br />V K Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that India was engaged with China through diplomatic channels to maintain “peace and tranquillity” in accordance with various bilateral agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, protocols and joint statements of 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2012 and 2013.<br /><br />In a written reply to questions from several MPs in the Lok Sabha, Singh said that India was “committed to finding an amicable resolution acceptable to concerned countries”.<br /><br />His comment came even as Beijing indicated that India must withdraw its troops from Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan if it wanted to have “meaningful dialogue” with China.<br /><br />The face-off started on June 18 when Indian Army soldiers from Doka La in Sikkim went to Doklam Plateau along the disputed China-Bhutan border to stop the personnel of Chinese People's Liberation Army from constructing a road, which would have serious security implications for India. The Chinese PLA personnel had started construction of the road two days ago brushing aside protests from the soldiers of Royal Bhutanese Army.<br /><br />Singh informed the Lok Sabha that New Delhi had also conveyed to Beijing that the PLA's actions in Doklam Plateau area amounted to a significant change in the status quo in India.<br /><br />He also informed that the Chinese PLA's move to build the road was “not in consonance with the bilateral understandings reached between India and China under the framework of the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question” since the Doklam (Plateau) area was “directly relevant for determination of the tri-junction point between India, China and Bhutan.<br /><br />The Minister of State for External Affairs also referred to the press-release issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan on June 29. Bhutan, according to the press release, had conveyed to China, both on the ground and through the diplomatic channel, that the construction of the road in its territory was “a direct violation of the agreements between China and Bhutan signed in 1988 and 1998”.<br /><br />Bhutan demanded the restoration of the status quo as it had existed at Doklam Plateau, before the PLA personnel came and started building the road on June 16. India has “maintained constant communication with Bhutan, said Singh.<br /><br /></div>
