The Indian Army on Monday dismissed reports of bulldozers being used by the Chinese army to destroy army camps in Doklam area where a stand-off is continuing between the two sides.
According to news agency IANS, some army officials, who did not want to be named, denied reports that the Chinese troops used bulldozers to destroy Indian Army’s makeshift camps. The news agency reported that the officials refused to divulge any further details.
Although media reports suggested invasion by the Chinese counterparts, the Indian Army and the defence ministry didn’t reveal much on the issue.
Army officials said only the external affairs ministry could make a statement on the issue, which involved two foreign countries – Bhutan and China.
India, in its statement on Friday, denied that Indian troops crossed the boundary in the Sikkim sector of the India-China frontier and entered the Chinese territory.
Reports said that a People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s construction party entered Doklam area on June 16 and attempted to build a road despite objections from a Royal Bhutan Army patrol. Bhutan lodged a protest with China on June 20.
On Thursday, Bhutan said the construction of the road inside its territory was a violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements with China.
Meanwhile, China on Monday said India was using Bhutan to ‘cover up’ the illegal entry by Indian troops into ‘Chinese territory’ and demanded their immediate withdrawal.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said India’s action went against the “basic principles of UN charter and the international law and infringed upon Chinese territorial integrity”.
