Doklam disengagement incomplete: Chinese troops insist on staying behind on plateau

[Chhatrapati]

A fortnight after the high-stakes Doklam standoff between India and China was diffused via diplomatic channels, soldiers of the People's Liberation Army continue to remain on the contentious plateau. The PLA personnel have even built bunkers on a ridge line behind the disputed area, sparking fears of a fresh standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Chinese presence on the plateau was raised by India during a September 8 flag meeting between the Indian division commander and his PLA counterpart at the Nathu La mountain pass.

During the four-hour meeting, the Indian Army insisted that the agreed-upon August 28 disengagement would be incomplete without PLA soldiers vacating the plateau. The Chinese side is believed to have told the Indian army that they would get back after consulting their superiors.


An unspecified number of Indian and Chinese troops currently remain on the Doklam plateau, separated by a distance of 150 metres.

The August 28 disengagement led to a successful visit by Prime Minister Modi to the BRICS summit in Xiamen, between September 3-5. PM Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the latter emphasised the need for 'peace and tranquillity on the border areas as a pre-requisite for the further development of ties'.

THE STANDOFF

The 71-day Doklam standoff was sparked on June 16 when the Indian Army halted a Chinese construction party building a road in Bhutanese territory towards the Jampheri ridge. The ridge overlooks India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor also called the 'Chicken's Neck' due to its strategic vulnerability.

New Delhi fears that Chinese PLA being in close proximity to the Siliguri Corridor could allow it to cut the Northeast off from Indian mainland during a hypothetical conflict.

The standoff, which was marked by sharp bellicose from China's state media, ended on August 28, with Chinese and Indian troops carrying out a sequential withdrawal from the disputed area and the Chinese halting road construction and taking back their equipment.

Sources privy to the September 8 meeting told India Today that the Chinese also insisted on patrolling up to the Jampheri ridge which is where they insist the trijunction between India, China and Bhutan lies. Both India and Bhutan insist the trijunction lies four kilometres north of the ridge, at the Batang La pass.

The flag meeting at Nathu La was the second since the August 28 de-escalation when both sides withdrew 150 metres from the disputed road construction site.

The first meeting, between Brigadier-ranked officers, was called for on August 30, a day after the de-escalation, when the Indian army objected to the Chinese leaving behind a flag at the spot guarded by eight soldiers.

The Chinese withdrew two days later, but continue to occupy their positions on a ridge abutting the plateau where they have built the bunkers.

 

[ohmrlobalobayeh]

Misinformation, fake news and propaganda

 

[Dungeness]

So Chinese media was accurate that the withdrawal was unilateral by Indian Army, and Chinese are staying with newly built bunkers. Now where is "the biggest diplomatic victory in decades" for India, claimed by India media?

 

[Jackdaws]

Have the Chinese acquired the technology to build roads in this weather yet?

 

[Chhatrapati]

So Chinese media was accurate that the withdrawal was unilateral by Indian Army, and Chinese are staying with newly built bunkers. Now where is "the biggest diplomatic victory in decades" for India, claimed by India media?

This is what happens when you read only the title.

An unspecified number of Indian and Chinese troops currently remain on the Doklam plateau, separated by a distance of 150 metres.

Also, our precondition for withdrawal was stopping the road construction. You did that hence the agreements.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Why is anyone surprised, the Chinese Foreign Minister already said that Chinese patrols and permanent garrisons are being set up in Donglang, and that the road will be completed.

Next, they will claim "surprise" at the fact that the road is being built.

Also, our precondition for withdrawal was stopping the road construction. You did that hence the agreements.

The Chinese and Indian statements mentioned nothing about promising to stop road construction, in fact China's official statements said the opposite, that the road will be completed.

 

[HariPrasad]

Build even a single inch of road if you have guts.

 

[seesonic]

Build even a single inch of road if you have guts.

 

[Feng Leng]

Build even a single inch of road if you have guts.

LOL we already built a road to Doklam plateau and publicly declared it will run to Bhutan. So where is India now? All I saw was unilaterally retreating IA after getting its a$$ kicked in Ladakh.

 

[Dungeness]

LOL - as country known for open defecation worldwide is China. Haha - even when public toilets are available, the dirty chinese decide to have a go in the open. Chinese "culture".

@Joe Shearer What you think about this member of India origin.

Why is anyone surprised, the Chinese Foreign Minister already said that Chinese patrols and permanent garrisons are being set up in Donglang, and that the road will be completed.

Next, they will claim "surprise" at the fact that the road is being built.



The Chinese and Indian statements mentioned nothing about promising to stop road construction, in fact China's official statements said the opposite, that the road will be completed.

@Chinese-Dragon please excise your privilege to ban or to rate "negative" to those who intentionally insult China and Chinese as a whole. see post #14

 

[Han Patriot]

Build even a single inch of road if you have guts.

Let me refresh you memory.

Doklam and Doklam plateau are two different things, China wanted to own Doklam not just the plateau, the road till Doka La essentially already covers the whole Doklam plateau. When we station troops there, we have de-facto control of Doklam plateau. Strategically, it was the plateau that mattered, the last big piece of flat land there facing Siliguri. Use google 3D, the plateau area is only at the top left quarter of Doklam, the rest are essentially river valleys with no strategic use.

So when Indians entered the Doklam plateau area, their main aim was not road obstruction, it was road destruction of the completed roads in Doklam Plateau. Why else do you need to bring in 2 excavsatros, you could have used only kumbaya troops instead.

Map from Indian analyst. Doklam plateau is from Batang La, Merug La, Senche La to Doka La, looks like a diamond, essentially the whitish area crisscrossed by the roads there. We completed roads from Merug La/Senche La to Doka La, essentially grade 40 roads, then interference from Doka La happened when we tried to extend to Gyomochen. Gyomochen is not a plateau but it was the original trijunction as per 1890 agreement.

Map from Chinese MOFA

To me this is a win win situation because the definition of victory differs between China and India. India wanted media victory for Modi's reelection and also to cover up the fck ups by BJP. China wanted strategic victory. Why did I say India got a media victory? Because we shouldn't have even given a road postponement concession since it was 'rightfully' ours. However, in reality, China did not exercise de facto control of Doklam prior to this, India on the other hand had soldiers in Doka La. Due to it's disputed nature, China could only patrol. The status quo is now changed forever whether India admits it, there is now a grade 40 road covering the whole Doklam plateau (not Doklam area) and permanent Chinese troops stationed there. De facto control is now in Chinese hands which is exactly what we wanted.

The original Indian objective was to ensure Doklam plateau (not the whole Doklam area)

does not fall into Chinese hands, not by obstructing road construction, they were aiming to destroy the completed roads in the plateau. Strategically speaking, extending the road to Gyomochi is only for de jure control not de facto control. By controlling the whole Doklam plateau (not Doklam area), we already have de facto control over the whole Doklam.



*** kicking



https://www.strategic-culture.org/n...arn-the-right-lesson-from-china-standoff.html

So if we build road, what are they gonna do? RUN like before?

Link please to the original story?

If the news is true, then time for kicking some more chineaps a$$e$.. They are jumping too much now days.

There is no IF, we already declare openly to the whole world via our Foreign Ministry, while your MEA is suspiciously quiet. I am betting that India will blame China for violating the 'agreement', ledge a protest and nothing will happen as usual, after this episode, they don't dare to do another camping and sing kumbayas holding hands. They know we mean war if they cross that border.

 

[unbiasedopinion]

There is no IF, we already declare openly to the whole world via our Foreign Ministry, while your MEA is suspiciously quiet. I am betting that India will blame China for violating the 'agreement', ledge a protest and nothing will happen as usual, after this episode, they don't dare to do another camping and sing kumbayas holding hands. They know we mean war if they cross that border.

Is this the reason you backstabbed your trusted ally by including JuD and other terrorists in the BRICS list? May be Modi has traded this with you in case it is true. Moreover I don;t believe in your story. CHina is known all around the world as manipulator and treaty breaker. You manipulate your currency and deny following the ICJ rulings. Your MoFA lies from the rooftop to brainwash its own citizen. untill i see this news in any leading newspaper (i dont mind if it is Indian, chinese or any international) i would not believe in this cuckoo story.

LOL at the Indian going bonkers with humiliation from Ladakh a$$ kicking and shupa powa unilateral retreat at Doklam!

Lol, laughing at their own posts. No concrete links, no fact based discussions, just repeating same stuff like parrots thinking world will agree to you without countering.

 

[Jackdaws]

So has China started construction of the road or do they still claim they don't have the technology?

 

[HariPrasad]

Staying behind platuae is disangement iitself. If they try to build a road, they will be humiliated once again.

LOL we already built a road to Doklam plateau and publicly declared it will run to Bhutan. So where is India now? All I saw was unilaterally retreating IA after getting its a$$ kicked in Ladakh.

Its place whose @$$ is getting clicked again and again. First in chumar and now indoklam.

 

[Joe Shearer]

@Joe Shearer What you think about this member of India origin.

Rather poorly, I am afraid. This kind of broadcast insult serves no purpose except to wound feelings, create hostility and win transitory fame for the person doing the insulting.



@Chinese-Dragon please excise your privilege to ban or to rate "negative" to those who intentionally insult China and Chinese as a whole. see post #14[/QUOTE]