7/24/2017 Amid Doklam standoff, China hints bilateral at BRICS NSA meet - The Economic Times

ET Home News Defence Search for News, Stock Quotes & NAV's

04:05 PM | 24 JUL EOD 50 ( ) (/10 / CREATE - CHOOSE

LANGUAGE
PORTFOLIO
MARKET STATS 32,245 216.98 9,966 51.15 28,542.00 1.00 64.33 0.02 KAN

Amid Doklam standoff, China hints bilateral at BRICS NSA

meet
BY IANS | UPDATED: JUL 24, 2017, 07.59 PM IST Post a Comment

BEIJING: Amid the Sikkim standoff, China today hinted that a bilateral meeting between
State Councillor Yang Jiechi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval could take place on
the sidelines of a BRICS NSAs' meet here this week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, during a briefing, left the door open for
talks between Doval and Yang by saying that he cannot confirm it but in the past meetings
of BRICS NSAs, the officials have held bilateral meetings.

Lu's remarks came after Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian asserted that
China will safeguard its security interests at "any cost" and asserted that India should not
"harbour any unrealistic illusions". Beijing has ruled out any talks over the border row
until India withdraws troops from Doklam in the
Sikkim sector.
"China will safeguard its security interests at any cost. India should not leave things to luck
and not harbour any unrealistic illusions," he said ahead of the 90th anniversary of the
People's Liberation Army (PLA). Big Change:
The end of Five-Year Plans: All you need to know

China maintained its hardline stance on the Sikkim standoff, even as Doval is set to travel to Beijing this week to attend the BRICS
NSAs meeting scheduled to be held from July 27-28.

"I don't have relevant information you mentioned right now. As far as we know during the previous meetings, the host countries arranged
for the heads of the delegations to hold bilateral meetings in which they exchanged views on bilateral relations, BRICS cooperation and
multilateral affairs," Lu said when asked whether there would be a bilateral meeting between Yang and Doval.
Recommended By Colombia
Love bikes? Get any on A woman transformed
rent @Rentomojo her body in 2 months
Rentomojo
with this product
The Fit Indian Blog

Both Doval and Yang are Special Representatives of the two countries in the boundary talks.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay, while replaying to a question about Doval's schedule in Beijing, had last week said
that if there are any further developments in his programme then the media will be informed.

Asked whether the Doklam standoff will figure in the BRICS NSAs' meeting since the agenda included discussion on regional hotspot
issues, Lu said, "China and India enjoy smooth diplomatic channels".

"The Indian border troops illegally crossed into China's territory. We once again urge India to pull back its troops to the Indian side of the
boundary. I want to stress again that this is the precondition for any meaningful talks between the two sides," he said.

Lu also declined to comment on whether the BRICS NSAs would call on Chinese President Xi Jinping or Premier Li Keqiang, saying that
he has no information on it.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/amid-doklam-standoff-china-hints-bilateral-meet-at-brics-nsa-meet/printarticle/59737755.cms 1/3
7/24/2017 Amid Doklam standoff, China hints bilateral at BRICS NSA meet - The Economic Times

The tradition of the previous BRICS NSA meetings has been that it was followed by a meeting with the top leaders of the host country.

In his briefing, Lu said Doklam standoff is like no other between India and China.

Reacting to the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's comment that territorial disputes between India and China should solved
peacefully, Lu said the Australian leader is "correct".

"But this principle does not apply to the current standoff between China and India because Doklam region has no dispute. The Sikkim
section is a defined boundary recognised and abided by both sides," he claimed.

Earlier, commenting on the over a month-long military standoff between the troops of the two countries at Doklam area in the Sikkim
section, Wu urged India to "correct its mistake".

Stating that the PLA has taken emergency measures in the region and continues to increase focused deployments and drills, he said,
"We strongly urge India to take practical steps to correct its mistake, cease provocations, and meet China halfway in jointly safeguarding
the border region's peace and tranquillity."

Last week, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had told Rajya Sabha that China intends to unilaterally change the status of the tri-
junction with Bhutan, which poses a challenge to India's security.

She had said there was a written agreement between India, China and Bhutan in 2012 that the three nations will together decide on the
boundaries at the tri-junction point.

She also accused China of building roads using bulldozers and excavators, which has been protested by Bhutan in writing to China.

The standoff between China and India in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction has dragged on for the past four weeks. It started
after a Chinese Army's construction party attempted to build a road.

Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in the Sikkim section.

On the BRICS NSAs meeting, Lu said the meeting is the main platform for the BRICS countries to "discuss and conduct political and
security cooperation".

"It will play an important role in strengthening strategic communication, increase political trust and elevate their influence in international
affairs," he said.

Stay on top of business news with The Economic Times App. Download it Now!

Live Market Industry About Us

News Newsletters Create Your Own Ad
Portfolio Commodities Advertise with Us
Powered by Mobile Speed Terms of Use & Grievance Redressal
Live TV Blogs Privacy policy
Biz Listings RSS

Download it from Download it from Download it from

FOLLOW US APP STORE GOOGLE PLAY Windows Store

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/amid-doklam-standoff-china-hints-bilateral-meet-at-brics-nsa-meet/printarticle/59737755.cms 2/3
7/24/2017 Amid Doklam standoff, China hints bilateral at BRICS NSA meet - The Economic Times

Other Times Group news sites Hot on the Web

| | Pune Mirror | Bangalore Mirror | Ahmedabad Mirror SBI Share Price | Income Tax Return | GST | ONGC-HPCL Merger | NPS | Sensex
| ItsMyAscent | Education Times | Brand Capital | Mumbai Mirror | Times Now |
Indiatimes | | | | Go Green | AdAge India
| Eisamay | IGN India | NavGujarat Samay | Times of India | Lifehacker | Gizmodo |
Samayam Tamil | Samayam Telugu | Miss Kyra | Bombay Times | Filmipop
Living and Entertainment
Timescity | iDiva | Entertainment | Zoom | Healthmeup | Luxpresso | Gadget Reviews |
Titanium & Platinum Credit Card | Online Songs | MensXP | Hotels | Travel
Destinations | Cricbuzz | Recipes | Gaana | Happytrips | Getsmartapp
Today | Gold Rate Today | IFSC Code | Sensex Live | RIL AGM | RBI | Jio Phone
Services
Book print ads | Online shopping | Matrimonial | Astrology | Jobs | Tech Community |
Property | Buy car | Bikes in India | Free Classifieds | Send money to India | Used Cars
| Restaurants in Delhi | Remit to India | Buy Mobiles | Listen Songs | News |
TimesMobile | Real Estate Developers | Restaurant Deals in Delhi | Car Insurance |
Gadgets Now | Free Business Listings | CouponDunia | Remit2India | Techradar |
AliveAR | Getsmartapp App | ETMoney Finance App | Feedback

Interest Network
itimes

In Case You Missed It

NIA arrests seven Kashmiri separatists for terror funding China to 'step up' troop deployment in India border row

Car bomb in Afghanistan capital kills at least 12: Kabul officials Indian space pioneer Udupi Ramachandra Rao passes away
at 85

In China, global corporate giants confront new walls Vilifying Aadhaar is foolish in the age of Google and
Facebook. A top babu explains why

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran hints at selling under Rs 11 crore levied as 'superfast' surcharge, but trains delayed
performing companies up to 95% of times

Why it may make sense to apply privacy rights on a case-by- Mayawati resignation: Gimmick or well thought-out plan?
case basis

Despite total control over India, here's why Modi can't take a Avenue Supermarts (DMart) reports 47.6% rise in Q1 net profit
BJP win in 2019 for granted at Rs 175 crore

Copyright 2017 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/amid-doklam-standoff-china-hints-bilateral-meet-at-brics-nsa-meet/printarticle/59737755.cms 3/3