Doka La standoff: Amid growing border tensions with India, China conducts military drill

Amid escalating tensions over the Doka La standoff with India, China has conducted a military drill in the western part of the country. The drill was meant to “strike awe in India”, a Chinese military expert was quoted as saying by the Lianhe Zaobao daily. The drill was conducted by the Western Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The location and timing of the exercise were not disclosed. According to the China Central Television, 10 PLA units, including aviation and armoured forces, participated in the drills. Tibet, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Qinghai, Sichuan and Chongqing comes under the newly-formed Western Theater Command. [caption id=“attachment_3955959” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] In July, the PLA had conducted a live drill in Tibet, which borders India. China has said its army is ready for a military conflict with India, whose troops are on its territory in Doka La. Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a three-month standoff at Doka Lain the Sikkim section of the Sino-India border. In June, Indian troops had halted road construction at Doka La, citing the disputed status of the territory. This triggered the longest military standoff between India and China after 1987 when both sides faced-off in Somordong Chu valley in Arunachal Pradesh. India and Bhutan say the area belongs to Thimpu, but China calls Doka La its own. Beijing wants New Delhi to withdraw troops from Doka La. New Delhi is for a simultaneous pullback of both Indian and Chinese troops.