Doklam ours, stop commenting: China

Beijing, January 19

China today said Doklam is Chinese territory and India has no business to comment if it builds infrastructure in the region.

China’s reaction came amid reports that it was building a huge military complex close to the site of the Dokalam standoff with India. Some satellite images purportedly show massive infrastructure build-up in Doklam by China, as close as 81m to the point of face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the disputed plateau last year.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

In India, the Congress has accused the Modi government of snoozing while China kept building infrastructure in Doklam even after the resolution of military stand-off last year.

“I don’t know who offers such kind of photos. I don’t know the detailed information,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said when asked about the images.

“You must be quite clear. Donglong (Doklam) always belongs to China and is always under China’s effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard,” Lu said.

“China is exercising its sovereignty in its own territory. It’s legitimate and justified. Just as China will not make comments about Indian construction of infrastructure on India’s territory, we hope other countries will not make comment on China’s construction of infrastructure on its territory,” Lu said.

“In order to patrol the border and improve the production and lives of border troops and residents, China has constructed infrastructure including roads in the Donglong (Dokalam) area,” Lu said. — Agencies

Keeping vigil: MEA 

"We are of course keeping a constant vigil on developments that have a bearing on India’s national security and taking necessary steps to safeguard it."

— Raveesh Kumar, MEA Spokesperson