Doklam standoff: China claims India was 'notified' about road construction near Sikkim

China also reportedly said that a new convention should be adopted between New Delhi and Beijing to replace the 1890 convention between Great Britain and China.

Calling for a new boundary agreement between New Delhi and Beijing to replace the convention adopted in 1890, China on Wednesday cited an informal diplomatic understanding between the two sides and claimed that India was aware of the road construction near Doklam, which sparked the standoff.

In a 15-page statement slamming India's stand on Doklam, Beijing claimed it had "notified India in advance" of its plans to build a road in Doklam. Accusing India of using Bhutan as "a pretext", China said India has no right to interfere in the boundary talks between China and Bhutan, said reports.

Reports quoted Chinese foreign ministry as saying that both sides had agreed on the boundary alignment in the Sikkim sector on May 10, 2006, which was in line an 1890 treaty signed by Great Britain and China.

China also reportedly said that a new convention should be adopted between New Delhi and Beijing to replace the 1890 convention between Great Britain and China. The 1890 convention demarcates the Sikkim boundary, said reports.

The document that China is referring to is an informal document, also known as non-paper in diplomatic parlance. According to China, Special Representatives on the boundary issue had in 2006 agreed to the boundary alignment in the Sikkim sector.

Beijing, however, makes no mention of India's claim that in 2012 it was agreed that any dispute at tri-junction will be settled after consultation with the concerned countries.

China had earlier said that a resolution to the Doklam standoff would be issued once Indian forces withdraw. China has maintained that there won't be a meaningful dialogue without the unconditional withdrawal of Indian troops from the area. But both sides have acknowledged that talks were held through diplomatic channels to ease the tension.

The standoff between Indian and Chinese armies has continued for close to six weeks over the construction of a road by China at Doklam near Sikkim. It is an area where the borders of India, China and Bhutan meet. Bhutan says the land, which it calls Doklam, belongs to its kingdom and not to China, a claim that India agrees too.

OneIndia News