Amid Dokalam stand-off, NSA Ajit Doval to visit China to attend BRICS meet

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at the Dokalam area, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will visit Beijing to attend the BRICS NSA's meeting on July 27-28.

Doval's China visit assumes great significance as New Delhi and Beijing have been engaged in the standoff in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan tri-junction since last month after a Chinese Army's construction party attempted to build a road. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while the 'Dragon' claims it as part of its Donglang region.

Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday accused China of "unilaterally" trying to change the status quo at the tri-junction on the frontier with Bhutan.

The Chinese media outlets have been spewing venom against India, ever since the two Asian giants got engaged in the standoff in the Dokalam area.

In the wake of an Army face-off and chill in ties with India over Dokalam stand-off, China has moved tens of thousands of tonnes of military vehicles and equipment into Tibet, a report said on Wednesday.

Amid the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at the Dokalam area, the PLA also conducted live-fire exercises in Tibet.

State-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the PLA conducted live-fire exercises in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

India has said Beijing's action to "unilaterally determine tri-junction points" violated a 2012 India-China pact which says the boundary would be decided by consulting all the concerned parties.

The Indian Army is ready for a long haul in holding onto its position in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan tri-junction, notwithstanding China ratcheting up rhetoric against India demanding pulling back of its troops.

The Indian soldiers deployed in the disputed area have pitched in tents, in an indication that they are unlikely to retreat unless there was reciprocity from China's PLA personnel in ending the face-off at an altitude of around 10,000 feet in the Sikkim section.

A steady line of supplies is being maintained for the soldiers at the site, official sources said, signalling that Indian Army is not going to wilt under any pressure from China.