BEIJING, July 18 - India should not use �trespass� into the Doklam area in the Sikkim sector as a �policy tool� to achieve its �political targets�, China said today, asking New Delhi to immediately withdraw its troops to avoid any escalation of tension.
The foreign ministry also said it was in �close communication� with foreign missions in Beijing on the stand-off with India, but refused to confirm whether it held a special briefing for them on the issue.
�Since the illegal trespass by Indian border personnel, many foreign diplomats in China felt shocked about this and (wanted) to confirm whether it was true,� the ministry�s spokesman Lu Kang said when asked about the reported briefing.
�The Chinese side maintains close communication with the foreign diplomatic missions on the issues they are interested,� Kang told reporters.
China reportedly held a �closed-door briefing� last week and conveyed their side of the story on the stand-off near the Bhutan tri-junction. The stand-off has continued for a month over the construction of a road by China near the tri-junction.
India has expressed concern over the road construction near the tri-junction, fearing it may allow Chinese troops to cut India�s access to its northeastern states. It has said the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India. � PTI
