How India and China cracked the 10-week-long Doklam puzzle in Hong Kong

The Chinese government confirmed the agreement to end the 10-week-long Doklam stand-off on Monday but went out of its way to convince its internal audience that it was India that pulled out troops without China making any concessions.

The Chinese foreign ministry said China would “continue to develop friendly relations with India“ while also saying, “Chinese troops continue to patrol the Donglong (Doklam) area even after the agreement“. India has descri bed the agreement as “mutual disengagement of troops“.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying acknowledged the agreement but spiced it up with remarks about Chinese troops hovering around the Doklam area.


“On the afternoon of August 28, the Indian side has pulled back all the trespassing personnel and equipment to the Indian side of the boundary ,“ Hua said, adding, “Chinese personnel on the ground have verified this, and Chinese troops continue to patrol the area and continue to exercise sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with the historical conventions.“

Hua admitted that China has agreed to make adjustments on the ground, a demand voiced by India, but did not emphasise it. A section of the Chinese media ignored this aspect of the agreement.

“I can tell you that China will make adjustments with the situation on the ground,“ Hua said. She did not directly answer a question about whether the Doklam deadlock was settled. We maintain that the peaceful settlement of the issue through diplomatic efforts will serve the common interest of the two sides and it shows sincerity and attitude of China as a major country in the region. China will continue to develop friendly ties with India,“ Hua said.

The MEA was clearly addressing hawkish sections in the Communist Party and the PLA, which have been demanding ejection of Indian troops and preparing to raise the issue at a crucial party Congress later this year. Observers said the India-China pact took place after a series of backroom talks, some of which were held in Hong Kong to avoid the glare of self-styled defence experts and the media.

In the end, Beijing chose to end the stand-off to ensure the success of the BRICS summit in a Chinese city on September 3.

On Monday , China's foreign ministry avoided giving the impression that it was fully satisfied with the deal. There was no mention of Bhutan in the ministry's statement.This contradicts its earlier stand that India has no business to interfere because the Doklam issue is a matter between China and Bhutan.