Government dismisses reports of Chinese build-up near Doklam

The government on Friday dismissed reports about fresh build-up by Chinese People’s Liberation Army at Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan, stating that the scene of the 72-day-long face-off witnessed no further development since August 28 disengagement.

“We have seen recent press-reports on Doklam. There are no new developments at the face-off site and its vicinity since the 28th August disengagement,” Raveesh Kumar, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

His comment came after the opposition Congress criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Government in view of the reports on fresh build-up by Chinese PLA near Doklam Plateau.

“The status quo prevails in this area (Doklam),” said MEA spokesperson.

The Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan witnessed a face-off between Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Indian Army from June 18 to August 28. The face-off added to the strains in India-China bilateral relations.

The Chinese PLA soldiers had started building a road in Doklam Plateau near the disputed China-Bhutan border on June 16, brushing aside protest by the border guards of the tiny Himalayan Kingdom.

The Indian Army soldiers from Doka La in Sikkim had gone to Doklam Plateau on June 18 and stopped the Chinese PLA soldiers from constructing the road, which would have had “serious security implications” for Siliguri Corridor linking India’s north-eastern States with the rest of the country.

The face-off ended on August 28.

The recent reports however indicated that the Chinese PLA had deployed more troops in its forward posts in the vicinity of Doklam Plateau in the past few weeks. Besides, the PLA soldiers also reported to have made at least three incursion into territory claimed by Bhutan along China’s disputed border with Himalayan Kingdom.