BEIJING, July 5 - Upping the ante on the Sikkim standoff, China today accused India of �trampling� on the Panchsheel principles and asked New Delhi to �correct its mistakes� as soon as possible by pulling back troops.
China also claimed that India was �misleading the public� by saying that Chinese troops are building a road close to the Chicken�s Neck in the Sikkim sector which could endanger India�s access to its north-eastern states.
�I want to point that the relevant actions by the Indian side violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in defiance of the international law and international norms. As we all know in 1950s China, India and Myanmar proposed the five principles (Panchsheel) of coexistence,� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Gen Shuang told reporters here.
�However to the surprise of everyone, the Indian side trampled on the basic norms governing the international relations proposed by itself by illegally crossing into other country�s territory,� he said.
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known as the Panchsheel, are a series of principles which have formed the bedrock of the relationship between India and China. Their first formal codification in treaty form was in an agreement between China and India in 1954.
Geng said this time the Indian troops crossed the delineated boundary into the Chinese side and nature of the incident was �very serious�.
�China and India have been in contact through the special representatives mechanism to solve the boundary question but this incident, I believe, violates the spirit upheld by the Special Representatives mechanism and goes in contrast to the efforts made by the two countries,� he said.
China has already lodged a protest with India on this, Geng said.
�Indian border troops are still staying on the Chinese territory,� he said.
The situation is yet to be resolved and �India should pull back the troops that is precondition to avoid worsening of the situation�, Geng said.
�Troops should be pulled back as soon as possible to demonstrate the sincerity to improve bilateral ties so as create conditions for the normal development of bilateral relations,� he said. � PTI
