China justifies construction of road in Sikkim sector, says the area ‘undoubtedly’ is located on its side of border

Beijing: China has justified the construction of a road in the Sikkim sector, saying the area “undoubtedly” is located on its side of the border as per the 1890 Sino-British Treaty.
“According to the treaty, ‘zhe’ is the ancient name of Sikkim,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement.
“As per this treaty, the area over which the Indian Army has raised objection is undoubtedly located on the Chinese side of the border,” he said on Tuesday.
The statement came a day after the Chinese military accused the Indian Army of stopping the construction of the road in what it claims to be China’s “sovereign territory” in the Sikkim section of the India-China border.
Lu said the Sikkim segment of the China-India border was recognised by both China and India.
“Compliance with these treaties signed by the two sides and the documents is an international obligation that is not to be shirked by the Indian side,” he added.
A Chinese foreign ministry statement, issued on Monday night, said “the Indian border guards crossed the boundary in the Sikkim section of the China-India border and entered the territory of China and obstructed normal activities of the Chinese frontier forces in the Donglang area recently, and the Chinese side has taken counter-measures.”
Lu, earlier on Tuesday, said China lodged a diplomatic protest with India accusing Indian troops of “crossing the boundary” in the Sikkim section and demanded their immediate withdrawal.
He also asserted that China has shut the Nathu La pass entry for Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar because of the border standoff.