Pull back troops from Doklam with 'no strings attached': China

China today said it has conveyed its

firm stand to India that it must take "concrete actions" by

immediately pulling back troops from Doklam in the Sikkim

section with "no strings attached" to resolve the current

standoff.

Providing the details of the July 28 meeting between

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and State Councillor Yang

Jiechi for the first time, Chinese Foreign Ministry told PTI

that the two officials exchanged views on BRICS cooperation,

bilateral relations and relevant major problems.

Doval was in Beijing last month to attend the BRICS --

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa -- NSAs meeting.

How India Became The Fifth-Largest Military Spender In The World

Doval and Yang are also the Special Representatives of

the boundary talks between the two nations.

Yang held bilateral meeting with Doval "at his request

and in accordance with the practice", the ministry said in a

written reply to a question about the discussions relating to

the standoff at Doklam which began when China started

constructing a road in the area.

"Yang Jiechi expressed China's stern positions and

explicit requirements on the trespass of Indian border troops

into China's territory at the Sikkim section of China-India

boundary," it said, indicating that there was no breakthrough

during the talks between Doval and Yang.

India's position on the issue was made clear by External

Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj last month, saying both sides

should first pull back their troops for any talks to take

place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff.

India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the

road construction would represent a significant change of

status quo with serious security implications for it.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said during his talks with

Doval, Yang also "urged India to respect China