China Lodges diplomatic protests, Accuses Indian Troops of 'Crossing Boundary' in Sikkim Section

Beijing: China on Tuesday accused Indian Army jawans of "crossing the boundary" in the Sikkim section and demanded their immediate withdrawal, while asserting that it has shut down the Nathu La pass entry for Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar because of the border standoff.

China also said that it has lodged diplomatic protests with India, both in New Delhi and Beijing, alleging that the Indian troops trespassed into Chinese territory in the Sikkim sector.

"We have lodged solemn representations in Beijing and New Delhi to elaborate on our solemn position," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang told a media briefing in Beijing.

"Our position to uphold our territorial sovereignty is unwavering. We hope the Indian side can work with China in the same direction and immediately withdraw the personnel who have overstepped and trespassed into Chinese border," he said.

He also linked future visits of pilgrims to India "withdrawing the troops" from the area.

"As to Indian pilgrims' journey through Nathu La pass at Sikkim section, I think the Indian side is very clear about this. For a long time Chinese government has made enormous efforts to provide the necessary convenience to those Indian pilgrims," Lu said.

"But recently the Indian border personnel trespassed Chinese border to obstruct our construction, we have taken necessary actions. Out of security consideration we have to put off the pilgrimage by the Indian pilgrims through the Chinese pass," he said.

"On the upcoming actions, we have to depend on what the Indian side will do. They have to take action to improve the security situation," Lu said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang last night said, "China urges India to immediately withdraw its border guards that have crossed the boundary and have a thorough investigation of this matter."

"The Indian border guards crossed the boundary in the Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered the territory of China, and obstructed normal activities of Chinese frontier forces in the Donglang area recently, and the Chinese side has taken counter-measures," he said in a statement.

The dispute over construction of a road was apparently the reason why China stopped a batch of 47 Indian pilgrims from crossing through Nathu La border in Sikkim into Tibet to visit Kailash and Mansarovar.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said yesterday that recently China has begun the construction of a road in Donglang region, but was stopped by Indian troops crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

In his statement, Geng said that the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary has been defined by treaties, noting that the Indian government has repeatedly confirmed in writing that there is no objection to it.

China urges India to respect boundary treaties and China's territorial sovereignty to maintain peace and stability at the China-India boundary, Geng said.

In view of the above event, for safety reasons, China has to put off arranging for the Indian pilgrims to enter through the Nathu La pass, Geng said, adding that China has informed India of its decision through diplomatic channels. The Nathu La Pass sits 4,545 metres above the sea level and is wedged between Yadong County in Xigaze Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Sikkim.

Till 2015, the yatra (journey) was being organised by External Affairs Ministry only through the Lipu Pass in Himalays connecting the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand with the old trading town of Taklakot in Tibet.

The Nathu La route enabled pilgrims to travel 1500 km long route from Nathu La to Kailash by buses. The route through Nathu La reduced the hardship and journey time enabling many more pilgrims, in particular aged pilgrims, to undertake the yatra.

Geng's statement comes after tension mounted in a remote area of Sikkim following a scuffle between the personnel of the Indian Army and the PLA, leading to Chinese troops damaging bunkers on the Indian side of the border.

The incident happened in the first week of June near the Lalten post in the Doka La general area in Sikkim after a face-off between the two forces, which triggered tension along the Sino-Indian frontier.

After the scuffle, the PLA entered Indian territory and damaged two make-shift bunkers of the Army.