In August, India accused China of provoking military tensions at the border twice in a week. Both charges were challenged by China, which said the impasse was „entirely“ India`s fault. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said there were enough bilateral mechanisms to resolve border disputes through diplomacy. [66] These agreements include:[66] Military tensions at the border are reflected in growing political tensions that have weighed on relations between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In June, a military standoff occurred between India and China in the disputed Doklam area near the Doka La Pass. On June 16, 2017, the Chinese brought heavy road equipment to the Doklam region and began building a road in the disputed area. [59] Previously, China had built a dirt road at Doka La on which Indian troops were stationed. [59] They conducted foot patrols from this point to the Place of the Royal Bhutanese Army (RBA) at Jampheri Ridge. [59] The dispute that erupted after June 16 was due to the Chinese starting to build a road under Doka La, where India and Bhutan claim to be from the disputed area. [59] This led to an Indian intervention in the construction of Chinese roads on 18 June, two days after the start of the work. Bhutan claims that the Chinese violated the written agreements between the two countries in 1988 and 1998, after extensive rounds of discussions. [60] The agreements stipulate that the status quo in the Doklam region must be maintained until March 1959. [60] It is these agreements that China has violated by building a road downstream of Doka La.
A number of statements from each country`s foreign ministries have been issued defending each country`s action. Because of the ambiguity of previous border talks that have begun since the Anglo-Chinese agreement signed in Calcutta on 17 March 1890, each country refers to different agreements that have been reached in an attempt to defend its position in the border conflict. [59] [60] After the June 28 invasion, the Chinese military claimed that India had stopped building a road on Chinese territory. [61] On 30 June, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the construction of Chinese roads was having an impact on India`s security, in violation of the status quo. [62] On 5 July, Bhutan issued an approach calling on China to restore the status quo by 16 June. [63] In July and August, the Doklam issue was not resolved. On 28 August, India issued a statement saying that the two countries had agreed to a „rapid withdrawal“ in the Doklam region. [61] Five bilateral agreements between India and China to resolve border disputes in 1947 at the time of independence, Aksai Chin belonged to India. After independence in 1947, the Indian government established its official border to the west, including the Aksai Chin, in a manner similar to the Ardagh-Johnson lineage.
India`s basis for defining the border is „mainly due to long use and habit.“ [28] Unlike the Johnson Line, India has not claimed the northern areas near Shahidulla and De Khotan. From the Karakorum Pass (which is not disputed), the Indian claim line extends northeast of the Karakorum Mountains, north of the salt plains of Aksai Chin, to establish a border near the Kunlun Mountains and integrate part of the Karakash and Yarkand River basins.