#SikkimStandoff: China indicates talks with Doval didn't succeed
Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country would never "swallow the bitter fruit" that could harm its sovereignty and defeat "all invasions." Xi's statement comes as Chinese troops are involved in a bitter standoff at Doklam, near the Sikkim border. The statements indicate that Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's recent parlays with Chinese officials over the border standoff haven't yielded Beijing's expectations.
China shows of military might in huge army parade
On July 31, President Xi Jinping oversaw a parade marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Xi, who was dressed in military camouflage, inspected 12,000 troops as well as nearly 600 pieces of China's most advanced weaponry at the remote Zhurihe military base in Inner Mongolia. Xi said the PLA is capable of vanquishing "all invading enemies."
Xi: China loves "peace," doesn't seek "expansion"
Xi said, "The Chinese people love peace. We will never seek aggression or expansion, but we have the confidence to defeat all invasions". "We will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory…" His speech came during a gathering of senior military and Communist Party officials marking the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing.
China's territorial disputes highlight expansionist policy
China's growing military prowess has been characterized by its assertiveness against bordering nations. While the spotlight is firmly on the Sikkim standoff with India and Bhutan, it must be noted that China has territorial disputes with neighbors such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.
China-India disagree on resolution of Sikkim standoff
In the Sikkim standoff, India favors a simultaneous withdrawal by Indian and Chinese troops. However, China disagrees claiming its soldiers have been deployed in its own territory and that its Indian troops that have transgressed. In a parallel development, China has opened a $4 billion, 635km expressway on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which could be used for military transportation up to India's border.
