Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj ‘lied’ to the Parliament that all countries back New Delhi over the Doklam border dispute, a Chinese daily said on Friday. It also asked India to be ready for war and to even lose its own territory if it does not pull back troops.
A hard-hitting commentary in the Global Times said India had tested China's patience, whose next move would be war if New Delhi did not withdraw troops from Doklam on the Sikkim section of the Sino-Indian border.
The daily, run by the Communist Party of China, also said it was "comical" to compare India's military with China's.
India will roll over if war happens, it said.
“She was lying to the parliament,” the commentary said, referring to Sushma Swaraj’s statement on Thursday where she said that other countries are backing India in the Doklam standoff.
First, India’s invasion of Chinese territory is a plain fact. New Delhi’s impetuous action stuns the international community. No other country will support India’s aggression... Second, India’s military strength is far behind that of China. If the conflict between China and India escalates to the intensity where their row has to be resolved through military means, India will surely loseGlobal Times article
The Times said the live-fire drill in Tibet by the Chinese Army and movement of huge military supplies to the region was not for "show".
India should abandon the fantasy of a long-term standoff at Doklam. China will by no means agree to the withdrawal of troops from both sides in order for talks to be held.Global Times article
‘All Countries With Us’, Says Sushma
Speaking inside the Parliament on Thursday, Swaraj had said that other countries are backing India in its standoff with China. She added that “India has not said anything unreasonable”.
“Over the years, China has been trying to get closer to where the tri-junction point ends. It has done things like repair roads, re-tar them and things like that,” Swaraj said.
“This time though, they came with bulldozers and construction equipment with an aim to breach the point where the tri-junction ends. That is a threat to our security,” she added.
The minister said that while China wants India to withdraw its troops, "it's only fair that China too should do the same".
Answering questions in the Rajya Sabha over H1-B visa restrictions imposed by the US, Swaraj said Trump has admitted that the contribution of the Indian professionals was benefitting both the countries and “if they (US) harm their (professionals') interests, then it will in turn affect them (US).”
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