The withdrawal of Indian troops from Chinese territory is the precondition to solve the incident and the basis for any meaningful dialogue between the two sides, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
Indian border troops recently crossed the China-India boundary at the Sikkim section and entered the Chinese territory, obstructing the normal activities of Chinese border troops in Doklam, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
China has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and put off arranging for Indian officially-organized pilgrims' entry into Tibet via the Nathu-la pass out of security concerns.
"The Convention Between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet in 1890 stipulates that Doklam is Chinese territory. There is no denying that Indian troops have entered Chinese territory," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a regular news briefing.
Indian troops' move has violated the treaty and the commitments of successive Indian governments, Lu said, urging India to respect China's territorial sovereignty and immediately withdraw troops to its own side of the border.
According to Hindustan Times, Indian Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat shrugged off reports of a recent skirmish between the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops and Indian troops in Sikkim, saying "there was no incursion into our territory."
"The army chief's remarks prove that previous Indian media reports were false," Lu said, responding to a question about reports that claimed PLA troops crossed the border into Sikkim.
