Nepal will not take any sides in the ongoing Sikkim standoff between India and China said Deputy PM, Krishna Bahadur. He said that the Nepal will not get dragged into this or that side in the border dispute. Nepal wants India and China to use “peaceful diplomatic means” to resolve the issue. This was said after few media reporters attempted to drag Nepal in favour of one or the other side but Nepal has made it clear that it will not take any sides in this matter. He also told media persons that Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will arrive in Nepal on August 14 on an official visit.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will pay an official visit to India from August 23 to 27 and necessary preparations are going on for the same.
India and China have been locked in a standoff in Sikkim section’s Doklam area since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. Bhutan has protested to China, saying the area belonged to it and accused Beijing of violating agreements that aim to maintain the status quo until the boundary dispute is resolved.
India says the Chinese action to lay the road was unilateral and changes the status quo. It fears the road would allow China to cut off India’s access to its northeastern states.