The Chinese foreign ministry held India responsible for the border stand-off in Sikkim and said it would not allow pilgrims from India to visit Kailash Mansarovar, in Tibet, if the situation was not resolved.
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Beijing said the stand-off was caused because "Indian border personnel trespassed the Chinese border to obstruct construction so we have taken necessary actions". But Indian sources maintain it was soldiers from the People's Liberation Army who intruded into Indian territory, destroyed two bunkers near the Lantern post and abruptly stopped the batch of pilgrims headed for Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.
There was no response from the ministry of external affairs till the time of going to press. The face-off in the Doka La area at the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction showed no signs of abating on Tuesday, with the two sides having reinforced their positions with additional troops. The statement about the yatra follows China blocking the further movement of pilgrims through Nathu La.
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Initial reports had suggested this had been done due to heavy rains on the other side. But the Chinese foreign ministry said it had taken the action on account of "security conditions" which included the border standoff in Sikkim.
"Out of security considerations we have put off pilgrimages by Indian pilgrims through the Chinese pass," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. He also tried to put the ball in India's court, saying, "So, for the upcoming actions, we have to depend on what the Indian side will do. They have to take action to improve the security situation."
The fate of 300 pilgrims waiting to enter Tibet through Nathu La hangs in the balance. So far, 1,080 of the total 1,430 will go through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that top Indian Army officers, including the general officer commanding of the 17 Division, are camping in the region after the jostling and scuffle between the rival troops.
There are almost 1,000 soldiers from each side in the troop confrontation underway for over the last 10 days, with the Army Headquarters in New Delhi closely monitoring the situation on an hourly basis, say sources.
"The situation is tense but under control. It must be remembered that there has not been any incident of firing along the Line of Actual Control for the last 50 years. Efforts are in progress to defuse the situation in accordance with laid-down procedures," said a source.
The bone of contention is the attempt by the PLA to further extend the road it has already constructed in the strategically-located Chumbi Valley region at the tri-junction, which is just about five km from the Siliguri Corridor or the so-called "Chicken Neck area" that connects India with its northeastern states.
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The Army on Tuesday once again refused to say anything about the stand-off but sources say the PLA troops in the Doka La region are equipped with heavy earthmoving and road-construction equipment. A flag meeting between the two rival commanders on the ground on June 20 failed to defuse the situation.
The Chinese government "has made enormous efforts to provide necessary convenience for Indian pilgrims", foreign ministry spokesman Lu said, adding, "But recently Indian border personnel trespassed the Chinese border to obstruct ongoing construction so we have taken necessary actions."