MEA issues rejoinder on media reports on situation in Doklam

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson has commented on recent reports on Doklam made by a US Official.

"The press reports attributing remarks on Doklam to a US official is incorrect. The reference to Doklam was made by Congresswoman Anne Wagner in the form of a question posed to the senior State Department Official Alice G. Wells. Ms Wells, in her reply, made no reference to the situation in Doklam and said that India is vigorously defending its northern borders and this is a subject of concern to India. I would reiterate that since the disengagement of Indian and Chinese border personnel in the Doklam area on 28 August 2017, there have been no new developments at the face-off site and its vicinity. The status quo prevails in this area," the MEA spokesperson said.

The news about the comments of Alice G Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, can be accessed here: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/china-quietly-resumes-its-activities-in-doklam-area-us-official/articleshow/65147221.cms.


The quote being referred to was asked by Congresswoman Ann Wagner, "Although both countries back down, China has quietly resumed its activities in Doklam and neither Bhutan nor India has sought to dissuade it. China's activities in the Himalayas remind me of its south China Sea policies. How should our failure to respond to the militarisation of the South China Sea inform the international response to these Himalayan border disputes?"