Sikkim standoff: China posts map showing India, Bhutan territory as its own part of land

To support its claim that Indian troops “trespassed” into its territory in Sikkim sector, China on Friday posted a map ‘showing the territory claimed by India and Bhutan as its own land.

The map posted on China’s foreign ministry website differs from Indian perception of Line of Actual Control. China has have claimed areas far south of what both India and Bhutan claim – New Delhi’s claim is till Batang La, while Beijing has laid claim to the territory till Mount Gipmochi, reported the Hindustan Times.

The entire controversy surrounds near the tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China. The Bhutan has long been claiming the Donglang or Doklam region in the Sikkim sector and the similar claims are made by China as well.

The territorial dispute between China and Bhutan over Donglang has further complicated the situation. The current standoff between India and China began on June 16 after China claimed that Indian troops entered into its territory.

India defended its move and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said that the construction work near the tri-junction in Sikkim centre has “serious security implications” and Indian troops had worked in coordination with Bhutan government to ask Chinese construction party to “desist from changing the status quo.”

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India also has also said any move to “unilaterally determine tri-junction points” violates the India-China agreement signed in 2012 to finalise the boundary in this region in consultation with all concerned countries.

“There is solid legal evidence to support the delimitation of the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary. It is stated in article one of the Convention Between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet (1890) that ‘the boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and northwards into other rivers of Tibet’,” Chinese state media reported after the standoff began.

“The line commences at Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier, and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nepal territory,” the report added.

China had also snubbed India in an oblique reference to the war the two countries had fought 55 years ago and said India should "learn from historical lessons" and stop clamouring for war. In reply, Indian defence minister said the India of 2017 is different from 1962 and current standoff between Indian and Chinese troops was triggered by Beijing.