China’s response comes two days after media reports on satellite images showing massive infrastructure build-up in Doklam, the site of a 73-day face-off between beijing and New Delhi.
File photo of a Chinese soldier gesturing next to an Indian soldier at the Nathu La border crossing in India's northeastern Sikkim state in July 2008. The opposition Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government of “snoozing as China occupied Doklam”. (AFP)
Updated: Jan 19, 2018 14:40 IST
By Indo-Asian News Service, Indo Asian News Service, Beijing
China on Friday said it will keep building infrastructure in Doklam and India has no business to comment on construction activity on Chinese territory.
Some satellite images purportedly show massive infrastructure build-up in Doklam, as close as 81 metres to the point of face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the disputed plateau last year.
“I don’t know who offers such kind of photos. I don’t know the detailed information,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said when asked about the images.
“You must be quite clear. Donglong (Doklam) always belongs to China and is always under China’s effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard,” Lu said.
“China is exercising its sovereignty in its own territory. It’s legitimate and justified. Just as China will not make comments about Indian construction of infrastructure on India’s territory, we hope other countries will not make comment on China’s construction of infrastructure on its territory,” Lu said.
India and Chinese troops were locked in a 73-day stand-off at Doklam, which is claimed by Bhutan.
The face-off began when the Indian military halted road building by the Chinese at Doka La in the region which is very close to India’s highway.
Even as both sides resolved the crisis by retreating from the point of face-off in August, news reports suggested that China was busy building infrastructure to fortify its position in the region.
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