#SikkimStandoff: India, China deploy 3,000 troops each in disputed area

Accusing India of transgressing into its territory, China's People's Liberation Army spokesperson, Wu Qian asked India to remember lessons from its defeat in the 1962 war with China and to stop asking for war.

He was reacting to Gen. Bipin Rawat's statement that India was ready for a two-and-a-half-front war.

Qian further identified withdrawal of Indian troops as a pre-condition for settling the stand-off.

China accused India of halting its road construction in the Donglang area near Sikkim, while India says that it stopped the PLA which transgressed into the Doka La area and destroyed two bunkers.

China stopped Indian pilgrims from undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra through Nathu La through Sikkim to Tibet.

Maintaining that Donglang is part of its territory, Bhutan accused China of violating its boundaries.

The India-China troop face-off along the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction in Doklam appears to have intensified with both the Indian and Chinese armies deploying 3,000 troops each, in a near eyeball-to-eyeball situation, according to sources.

Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat visited Gangtok and Kalimpong to review the situation.

"Both sides are as yet not willing to budge from their positions," a source said.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs earlier expressed deep concern over China's decision to construct a road near the disputed Doklam region near Sikkim.

It said the move represents a major alteration in the status quo, having 'serious' security implications for India.

The MEA also noted the Bhutanese foreign ministry's statement that the Chinese road construction inside its territory violated existing bilateral agreements.