New Delhi: In a major snub to China, the Bhutanese Government categorically rejected Beijing's claims that Bhutan had formally informed Beijing that the trilateral border stand-off area in Doklam, is not in its territory.
Reiterating that Doklam belongs to Bhutan, Thimphu specifically asked Beijing to take note of its foreign ministry statement issued on June 29, that states that Doklam lies in Bhutanese territory.
In the June 29 statement, Bhutan had said it had conveyed to the Chinese side on the ground and through diplomatic channels that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory (at Doklam) is a direct violation of the agreements -between Bhutan and China - and affects the process of demarcation of boundary.
Bhutan also accused China of violating the boundary agreements and asked it to refrain from taking unilateral action or use of force to change the status quo of the Bhutan- China boundary between the two countries, saying that on June 16, 2017, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started constructing a motorable road from Dokola in the Doklam area towards the Bhutan Army camp at Zompelri.
Bhutan had pointed out that it had been decided in written agreements in 1988 and 1998 between Bhutan and China that the two sides would agree to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, pending resolution of their boundary dispute.
