As a military standoff between China and India stretches into the third month, China will not soften its stance against any infringement of sovereignty over its territory.
"We will never seek aggression or expansion, but we have the confidence to defeat all invasions," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech on the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. "We will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory from the country at any time, in any form."
On June 18, more than 270 armed Indian troops with two bulldozers crossed the boundary in Sikkim Sector and advanced more than 100 meters into China to obstruct routine road construction in the Dong Lang (Doklam) area of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
In contrast to previous confrontations, the current face-off is an intrusion by Indian troops into the Chinese side of the mutually recognized boundary.
The Dong Lang (Doklam) area, which borders India's Sikkim state to the west and the Kingdom of Bhutan to the south, belongs to China and has been under Chinese rule for a very long time.
According to the Convention between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet (1890), Dong Lang (Doklam) undoubtedly belongs to China. The agreement was inherited by India after its independence and has been repeatedly confirmed in writing by successive governments of the former British colony.
India said it had merely come to the defense of its tiny neighbor Bhutan, arguing that Dong Lang (Doklam) is Bhutanese territory. But even if that were the case, India has no right to interfere in China-Bhutan boundary issues, nor is it entitled to make territorial claims on behalf of Bhutan.
India has not only encroached on China's territorial sovereignty, but also impaired the independence of Bhutan.
By creating disputes in Dong Lang (Doklam), India has increased its military presence in the Buddhist kingdom and is making use of Bhutan to increase its geo-advantage over China.
Dong Lang (Doklam) is believed to have huge strategic significance to India, due to its proximity to the Siliguri Corridor -- India's sensitive "chicken's neck" -- connecting seven northeastern states with the rest of the country.
Since the standoff, China has shown its goodwill and sought to communicate with India through diplomatic channels to resolve the issue.However, Indian troops failed to end their invasion.
China has no reason or desire to enter into a war with its neighbor, but it will never back down in defending its native soil at all costs.
To avoid escalation of military conflict, the only wise move for India is to unconditionally pull back its trespassing troops. No one can win from a possible India-China war.
As two of the world's oldest civilizations, the "Chinese Dragon" and the "Indian Elephant" have a lot in common. Their co-existence will benefit not only their combined 2.7 billion people, but also those living beyond their borders. By contrast, a spiral of bilateral rivalry would have a heavy price.
