Beijing's firm stance on China-India border dispute
POLITICS
By Huang Xinwei

2017-08-02 15:41 GMT+8

China stated its position on Indian border troops trespassing into its territory from the Indian state of Sikkim on Wednesday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

The Ministry released a report on Wednesday, "The Facts and China's Position Concerning the Indian Border Troops' Crossing of the China-India Boundary in the Sikkim Sector into the Chinese Territory", which lays out the facts of the illegal trespass of Indian border troops to the international community and gives a full account of the position of the Chinese government.

The China-India border dispute broke out when Indian border troops illegally crossed the Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary and entered into Chinese territory on June 18.

Indian troops trespassing into Chinese territory. /Photo from Chinese Foreign Ministry

Since then, China has strongly condemned the illegal trespass by the Indian side, and demands the troops to immediately withdraw back to their side. However, the Indian side has been refusing to do so and keeps finding excuses to justify this trespass.

The China-India boundary in the Sikkim sector was delimited by the 1890 Convention Between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet. It is a defined sector of the boundary that is recognized by both the Chinese and Indian governments.

"This not only severely violates China's territorial sovereignty but also poses grave challenges to regional peace and stability and normal international order, which will not be tolerated by any sovereign state," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

"China is committed to not only defending its territorial sovereignty but also safeguarding the basic principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations and upholding justice and righteousness. The Chinese side is convinced that the right cannot be wronged and justice will prevail, " Geng said.

READ MORE