Doklam stand-off: India intruded, alleges China’s foreign minister

BEIJING: A day before NSA Ajit

Doval

’s visit to Beijing, China’s foreign minister

Wang

Yi accused India of intrusion in

Doklam

, dimming prospects of an early resolution of the border stand-off.

“The rights and wrongs are very clear,” Wang said, claiming that senior Indian officials have “openly stated that Chinese troops did not enter Indian territory”. “In other words, the Indian side admitted to entering Chinese territory,” Wang further said in Bangkok on Monday.

The minister’s remarks, his first on the stalemate, were accompanied by media reports in China describing Doval as “the main schemer” of the Doklam standoff.

These were seen in New Delhi as deliberate misrepresentation of facts on the ground and a clear indication that little should be expected from the talks on July 27-28.

The bellicosity of the Chinese government was matched fully by hard-line publication ‘Global Times’ which argued that Indian media was being naive in assuming that the NSA’s visit to Beijing will lead to a settlement.

“Doval is believed to be one of the main schemers behind the current border stand-off between Chinese and Indian troops, the Indian media is pinning high hopes on the trip to settle the ongoing dispute,” said the daily routinely used by the establishment to put out views that it may be reluctant to articulate directly and to test waters.

Another official publication, China Daily, took a more moderate position hoping for a diplomatic resolution, observing that any deterioration would have an effect on China. However, foreign minister Wang Yi’s remarks, accusing India of boundary transgression ahead of Doval’s visit, suggested that China may not be interested in a resolution except the one at its own terms.

Despite the almost daily dose of belligerent rhetoric from China and state-controlled media, much like the LoC with Pakistan, Indian soldiers seem prepared for the long haul near the tri-junction with China as well.