The Chinese embassy in New Delhi, on 5 July, said China was willing to discuss the possibility of alternative arrangements through other routes for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, who had planned the journey via Nathula Pass, suggesting that the mountain pass in Sikkim was not open anymore for the pilgrimage.
In a statement regarding the Doklam standoff, political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in India, Li Ya said that “China’s territorial sovereignty has been undermined by the Indian border troops”.
Terming India’s position on the the issue “groundless,” he said Beijing has evidence to prove the fact that Doklam has been traditional pasture lands for China.
It is the Indian side that trespassed into Chinese territory and changed the status quo. As to Indian ‘security concern’, India crossed a delimited boundary into other country’s territory in the name of security concerns.
Watch the full statement here:
Alternate Routes For Kailash Mansarovar
Regarding the Mansarovar yatra, a spokesperson of Chinese embassy in India consular Xie Liyan said, “The official yatra through Lipuleku Pass and non-official yatra through Lhasa and Purang are still on the rails.”
According to a report on NDTV, Liyan in a stern message to India said that the country should “correct its mistakes” as soon as possible by pulling back its troops, but India has declined to comment on the matter.
“Indian yatra to Kailash and Manasrovar is an important part of China-India people-to-people and cultural exchanges...The two sides agreed that a total of 350 yatris in seven batches would take part in yatras to Xizang through Nathu La Pass this year,” she said.
However, days before the departure of the yatris, the Indian border troops crossed into the Chinese territory and obstructed the Chinese border troops’ normal activities in Doklam. To ensure the safe and smooth visit of Indian yatris, China has to halt their entry into Xizang through Nathu La Pass.
The spokesperson also said the Chinese side had notified the Indian side through diplomatic channel.
“China consistently respects the Indian people's religious sentiments and attaches importance to the pilgrimage,” she said.
While the statement alleged that the Indian border troops crossed into the Chinese territory, India maintained that it was “deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India”.
“According to statistics of Xizang authority, the Chinese side received about 1,000 official yatris and more than 10,000 non-official yatris every year. The Indian government and people from all walks of life have expressed appreciation and gratitude to the efforts by China,” the Chinese embassy statement said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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