China hints at keeping sizeable troops’ presence near Doklam

Team Udayavani, Dec 1, 2017, 8:52 AM IST

Beijing: The Chinese military on Thursday hinted at maintaining sizeable presence of its troops near the area of Doklam standoff during winter, asserting that the region is in Chinese territory.

India and China resolved the 73-day tense standoff on August 28 at Doklam area after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stopped building a strategic road close to India’s narrow Chicken Neck area connecting to North-Eastern states. Bhutan also claims the area to be its part.

India objected to the road construction by the PLA, saying it endangered the security of the narrow corridor. According to official accounts, both China and India in the past used to withdraw troops from the advanced regions of that area during the winter which is harsh.

“Donglong (Doklam) is Chinese territory,” Col Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence said on Thursday when asked about reports that PLA continues to maintain sizeable number of troops close to the standoff area and doing away with the practice of vacating the place during winter.