How did the “China-India confrontation” begin?

Indian border guards obstructed the normal activities of Chinese border guards in the Doklam area on the Sino-Indian border.

1. The background of the confrontation between China and India:

Donglam The area is located in Yadong County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, adjacent to the Indian State of Sikkim to the west and the Kingdom of Bhutan to the south. In 1890, China and the United Kingdom signed the Sino-British Conference Treaty on Tibet and India, which delineated the boundary between China's Tibet and Sikkim. According to the treaty, the Doklam area is located on the Chinese side of the border and is undisputed Chinese territory. Chinese border troops and herdsmen have long been conducting patrols and grazing activities in the area. The border between the Doklam area and Sikkim is part of the Sikkim section of the China-India border. After the founding of the People's Republic of China and India's independence, both governments inherited the 1890 Treaty and the Sikkim section of the Sino-Indian border determined accordingly. This was reflected in the letter from Indian Prime Minister Nehru to Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai and the Indian Embassy in China. In the note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the documents submitted by the Indian side during the meeting of the Special Representative on the Sino-Indian Boundary Issues. For a long time, China and India have exercised jurisdiction based on the boundary line determined by the 1890 treaty, and have no objection to the specific direction of the boundary line. Once the boundaries are determined by treaty, they are specially protected by international law and shall not be violated. Resolution 3314 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1974 stipulates that the armed forces of one country shall not invade or attack the territory of another country for any reason, whether political, economic, military or other reasons. excuse. The basis for India's obstruction of China's construction of a road in Doklam this time is that the three countries signed a document of understanding on the handling of trilateral junction issues in 2012, which requires that trilateral border affairs be resolved through consultation. China believes that India’s claim has abused the concepts of junction points and junction zones in the document, and insists on the right to carry out necessary infrastructure construction in the Doklam area. It is reported that this document is a phased achievement and will not be released until the border issue is resolved. India accuses China of not only unilaterally changing the status quo of the tri-junction point by building roads, but also posing a strategic threat to the Siliguri Corridor connecting the mainland and seven northeastern states. China also refutes this based on reason. The embarrassing thing about the Doklam standoff crisis is that Bhutan, whose economy, security and diplomacy are severely restricted by India, also publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the road construction, thus giving India some excuse to intervene.

2. The history of the confrontation between China and India:

2017-06-16: China started construction in the Doklam area. Beforehand, out of goodwill, China informed the Indian side twice in advance through the border defense meeting mechanism on May 18 and June 8, but the Indian side did not provide any feedback.

2017-6-18: More than 270 Indian border troops carrying weapons and two bulldozers crossed the Sikkim section boundary line more than 100 meters at the Dokara Pass and entered China to obstruct China's road construction activities, triggering a situation. nervous. The Chinese border defense forces took emergency response measures on the spot. Since then, the maximum number of Indian border guards who crossed the border reached more than 400 people. Together with 2 bulldozers and 3 tents, the depth of the crossing reached more than 180 meters. As of the end of July 2017, there were still more than 40 Indian border guards and one bulldozer illegally staying on Chinese territory.

2017-06-19: China urgently lodged solemn representations with India through diplomatic channels, strongly protested and condemned India’s illegal border crossing, and demanded that India immediately withdraw the crossing Indian border troops to the border. Indian side of the line.

2017-06-26: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website released news, revealing that Indian border guards crossed the boundary line at the Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered Chinese territory to obstruct the normal activities of the Chinese border guards in the Doklam area. China has taken corresponding countermeasures. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang also stated that due to security concerns, China has to postpone arrangements for the official Indian pilgrim group to enter the country through the Nathu La Pass in the Sikkim section of the China-India border. On the same day, India announced an anti-dumping investigation into China's polyester high-strength yarn.

2017-06-27: Due to Indian troops crossing the border and having a stalemate with the Chinese border defense forces, for security reasons, China has temporarily suspended arrangements for the Indian official pilgrim group to enter the country for pilgrimage through the Nathu La Pass in the Sikkim section of the China-India border.

2017-06-29: The Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference and stated that "it is hoped that individual individuals in the Indian Army can learn from historical lessons and stop making such dangerous remarks calling for war." The Ministry of National Defense also admitted that the People's Liberation Army's new tanks were being tested in Tibet.

2017-07-03: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again expressed its position on the issue of Indian troops crossing the border, demanding that India immediately withdraw the crossing border troops to the Indian side of the border. In response to the Indian Defense Minister's remarks that "India in 2017 is completely different from India in 1962," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China in 2017 is also different from China in 1962.

2017-07-04: The People's Liberation Army released a report on a live-fire exercise conducted by a brigade in the Tibet Military Region in an unfamiliar geographical environment at an altitude of 5,100 meters. The brigade was equipped with heavy equipment such as main battle tanks and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

2017-07-05: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press conference that China once again reiterated that India should immediately withdraw all cross-border border troops to the Indian side of the border. This is a solution to the current situation. The premise and basis of the incident to avoid more serious incidents and more serious consequences.

2017-07-07: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang responded to India's so-called "junction point" at a regular press conference: The so-called "junction point" between the three countries, as the name suggests, is a point, not a line or line. an area. The Indian side ignores the provisions of the boundary treaty and describes the entire Doklam area as the boundary of the three countries. It is obviously with ulterior motives and to confuse the public.

2017-07-08: The Chinese Embassy in India reminds Chinese citizens in and about to come to India to pay close attention to the local security situation and improve their awareness of self-protection. In case of emergency, call the police immediately and contact the Chinese Embassy in India. Senior Indian political party officials communicated with the Chinese ambassador about border issues, but after being exposed by the media, they "first denied and then admitted."

2017-07-09: At a sensitive moment, India received a high-profile reception for Myanmar Defense Forces Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. In 2015, relations between India and Myanmar were once tense due to border issues. However, as China's cooperation footprint in Myanmar continued to expand, India decided to make amends and repair with Myanmar.

2017-07-10: Indian reporters said that India is reportedly ready for a long-term confrontation in the Doklam area, but it is also seeking a diplomatic solution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that it did not know whether the relevant reports were true. If true, this can only prove that India’s illegal border crossing is organized and premeditated, and is an attempt to deliberately undermine the status quo in the Sikkim section of the China-India border. The United States, Japan and India have begun large-scale joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean. US military officers claim that this move is aimed at checking China's activities in the Indian Ocean. On the same day, the Mumbai Principals Association of India called for a boycott of Chinese-made stationery.

2017-07-11: This move is considered an attempt to cool down tensions between the two countries. Jaishankar, a former Indian ambassador to China, said that India-China relations are too closely intertwined to allow border disputes to cause permanent damage.

2017-07-12: Some reporters quoted India’s statement as saying that China and India have a long border and have not reached any demarcation agreement, so the two countries may have differences from time to time. In this regard, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that China and India have demarcated borders, and the "Sikkim section of the border" where this cross-border incident occurred is the only section of the border that has been demarcated. Geng Shuang pointed out that India’s illegal crossing of the border into Chinese territory is essentially different from previous frictions between the two sides in undemarcated areas. India's Foreign Secretary said on the same day that India will continue to deepen strategic relations with Vietnam and Japan.

2017-07-13: Xinhua News Agency issued an article warning India that it has crossed the line and advised India not to be stubborn and fall into greater passivity. The article stated that China is willing to resolve the issue peacefully through diplomatic means, but the prerequisite is that Indian cross-border personnel withdraw unconditionally. Nepal revealed that it will be able to access Internet services provided by China from August, ending India's Internet monopoly in the region. The Indian army was authorized to urgently purchase large quantities of ammunition to cope with short-term and high-intensity wars.

2017-07-18: Foreign media falsely claimed on the 17th that "at least 158 ​​Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in a rocket attack by the People's Liberation Army on the China-India border." The People's Daily refuted the rumor on the 18th, saying that the relevant statement Baseless. Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Begre also firmly refuted the "conflict reports". China once again strongly urged India at the regular meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to use sending military personnel across established national borders as a policy tool to achieve certain goals, but to withdraw its troops as soon as possible and not to go further down the wrong path.

2017-07-19: U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in response to a reporter's question about how the United States will "choose sides" as the situation on the Sino-Indian border becomes increasingly tense, "I understand that the United States has expressed 'concern' about the situation that continues to be tense." According to Indian media reports, an unnamed U.S. official said, "In order to ease the situation, we encourage direct dialogue between India and China."

2017-07-24: In an interview with reporters regarding the confrontation between China and India, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the merits of this issue are very clear. Even senior Indian officials have publicly stated that Chinese soldiers have not entered Indian territory. In other words, India admitted that it had entered Chinese territory. The solution to this problem is also very simple, that is, exit honestly. The spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense reminded the Indian side "not to take chances or hold unrealistic illusions" and that "it is easy to shake a mountain, but it is difficult to shake the People's Liberation Army."

2017-08-02: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China released the document "The Facts and China's Position on the Transgression of Indian Border Guard Forces into Chinese Territory at the Sikkim Section of the Sino-Indian Border". The purpose is to further explain to the international community the truth about the Indian military's cross-border incident and comprehensively explain the Chinese government's position. The document also mentioned that as of the end of July, more than 40 Indian troops were still illegally staying on Chinese territory.

2017-08-3: From the morning to the early morning of the 4th, six Chinese national ministries and agencies, including Xinhua News Agency, the People's Liberation Army Daily, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Chinese Embassy in India, and the People's Daily, successively reported on the Indian India made a statement on the border crossing incident, disclosed the nature of India’s illegal border crossing, and emphasized that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate and legitimate rights and interests.

2017-08-28: At about 14:30, the Indian side withdrew all cross-border personnel and equipment to the Indian side of the border. Chinese on-site personnel confirmed this.

2017-08-29: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all Indian cross-border personnel and equipment have been withdrawn to the Indian side of the border, and Chinese border defense troops continue to patrol and station in the Doklam area. In order to defend the border and improve the production and living conditions of local military and civilians, China has been carrying out infrastructure construction including roads in the Doklam area for a long time. “We will comprehensively consider weather and other factors and make relevant construction plans based on actual conditions.

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