China Urges India to Stop Trying Its Patience Amid Ongoing Border Crisis

The Chinese government once again urged India to immediately withdraw its troops from the Doklam plateau in the the Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet).

The border standoff broke out between China and India after Indian troops entered the area after the Chinese military began the construction of a highway there.

Diplomatic Warning

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a statement, "The Indian side is always keeping 'peace' on the tip of its tongue. But we should not only listen to its words but also heed its deeds."

According to the official, Beijing showed goodwill and had notified the Indian site before the construction in Doklam began, on May 18 and June 8. The Chinese diplomat said that the Indian side did not answer it and instead "fragrantly dispatched" armed forces to cross the border.

"Over one month has passed since the outbreak of the incident. The Indian border troops still illegally stay in Chinese territory. Moreover, the Indian side is building roads, hoarding supplies and deploying a large number of armed forces on the Indian side of the boundary. This is by no means for peace," Geng said.

According to the diplomat, India is not responding to China’s calls to withdraw its troops from China’s territory. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also accused India of making reciprocal accusations and defending its "illegal" activities.

"If the Indian side truly cherishes peace, what it should do is to immediately pull back the trespassing border troops to the Indian side of the boundary," the spokesperson stated.

He added that India has ignored the existing communications channels and mechanism and its actions were "irresponsible and reckless."

"This incident is illegal under international law. The Indian side should bear corresponding responsibilities," Geng said.

Restraint Has Its Limits

Meanwhile, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said that since the Doklam incident occurred China has shown its "utmost goodwill" and tried to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the conflict.

"The Chinese armed forces have also shown a high level of restraint with an eye to the general bilateral relations and the regional peace and stability. However, goodwill has its principles and restraint has its bottom line," Ren said in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, no country should underestimate the capability of the Chinese military to safeguard peace and its resolve to defend national sovereignty and security interests.

"We strongly urge the Indian side to immediately withdraw its troops back to its territory and as soon as possible settle the incident and restore peace and stability in the border area," the statement read.

China alleges that Indian troops crossed the border at Sikkim in mid-June to stop the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from constructing a road in Donglang (Doka La or Doklam in India and Bhutan), a territory which it claims as its own. India, however, says Chinese troops entered Bhutanese territory in the tri-junction area and PLA's road building attempt violates the 2012 agreement and significantly alters the status quo. As Bhutan's major ally, India deployed troops to stop the road project, prompting Beijing's accusations.

Border face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops occur on an almost daily basis at different parts along the 4,057-kilometer (about 2,521 miles) Line of Actual Control between the two nations. The PLA clashed with Indian forces twice in the Sikkim region in 1967. Sikkim became an Indian State in 1975 and China indirectly recognized India’s control over Sikkim in 2003, upon agreement that India accept Tibet as part of China.