India Well-Equipped To Defend Itself Against China: Sushma Swaraj In RS

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that all the countries, including Bhutan, are with India on the issue of the Dokhlam stand-off. Sushma's response came after Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal questioned the Centre on the Doklam stand-off.

Swaraj said the issue is due to the "tri-junction point that is between India, China and Bhutan" and that if Beijing unilaterally tries to change the status quo at the tri-junction, then it will pose a threat to New Delhi's security.

"India wants that troops are removed from the tri-junction point to discuss the issue together. All countries, including Bhutan, are with us," she said in Rajya Sabha on the fourth day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session. "Over the years, China has been trying to get closer and closer to where the tri-junction point ends. It has done things like repair roads, re-tar them and things like that," Swaraj added.

She also described what was different about the incident on 16 June that sparked the latest standoff. "This time though, they came with bulldozers and construction equipment with the aim of breaching the point where the tri-junction ends. That is a threat to our security," Swaraj explained.

The minister said that while China wants India to withdraw its troops, "it's only fair that China too does the same" to create an environment fit for dialogue. She also mentioned that the country is well equipped to defend itself. "It is wrong to say India can't defend itself," the minister was quoted as saying. (ANI)