Exclusive: In Doklam, Chinese Built New Roads In Last 2 Months, Show Satellite Pics

New Delhi:  New satellite images of the Doklam area to the east of Sikkim clearly indicate that Chinese road workers have expanded multiple stretches of the existing track in the disputed area, a short distance away from the site where Indian and Chinese soldiers faced off for 70 days earlier this year.

The most prominent new stretch on the road extends for one km and lies approximately 4.5 km to the east of the standoff site. A second prominent shunt in the road lies around 7.3 km to the east of the standoff site and extends northwards for a distance of nearly 1.2 km. There are additional stretches of track which have been also been constructed 10 km to the east of the standoff site near the Sinche La pass, as reported by NDTV in October.

A comparison of older satellite images of Chinese road construction activity in the region over the last 13 months, it is clear that the new stretches have been constructed after February 19; at least two stretches were constructed very recently, between October 17 and December 8.
 In mid-June, Indian soldiers crossed the Sikkim border to stop the construction of a Chinese road near the "Chicken's Neck," a thin strip that links India to its northeastern states. After more than two months of soldiers from both sides staring down at each other just 150 m apart, the conflict, described as the worst in decades, subsided with both countries accepting that they were withdrawing their troops. Significantly, none of the new tracks which have been constructed by China so far are directed south in the direction of the Chicken's Neck. 

Just yesterday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi ahead of the Russia, India and China (RIC) Foreign Ministers' meeting. According to the foreign ministry, the meeting gave "fresh momentum to our bilateral relationship."

But in an unusually blunt statement today, the Chinese foreign ministry said the Doklam standoff has put ties under "severe stress" and efforts to foster mutual trust over the last year were "not very satisfactory".

"The matter was finally settled peacefully through diplomatic means, reflecting the maturing of bilateral relations. However, lessons should be learned and should be avoided again," said minister Wang Yi with the hint of a warning.

There are reports that China has positioned in the Doklam region more than 1,000 soldiers who are likely to remain in the area throughout winter for the first time. The Indian Army is already well-positioned in the region with several units in Sikkim facing the Chinese in Doklam.