China cancels Indian journalists scheduled trip to Tibet amid the standoff in Doklam between the Indian and Chinese border army. The message of cancellation was informed to the concerned parties by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. The reports said that the cancellations are a backdrop of stand off between the armies of the two nations at the Doklam region of Sikkim-Tibet border.
“The cancellation of the journalists’ trip, which was scheduled from July 8-15, came in the backdrop of a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector.” said the report in The Hindu.
China organizes sponsored tours inside Tibet for batches of Indian journalists every year.
“A stand-off erupted between the two militaries after the Indian Army blocked construction of the road by China in the Doklam area, a disputed territory between China and Bhutan. India on Friday expressed deep concern over China constructing the road in the disputed area and said it had conveyed to Beijing that such an action would represent a significant change of status quo with “serious” security implications for India.” said the report in News18.
China’s restrictive measures have rendered Tibet alienated from the outside world. Tibetan people’s continued revolution against the Chinese invasion of Tibet since 1959 and China has closed down all the doors to foreign visitors into Tibet, especially media. Reports also suggested that Tibet was harder to access than that of North Korea!
The stand off between the armies of the two nations in the Sikkim-Tibet border has led China to cancel the trip of the Indian journalists, which China does not appreciate is a well known proposition across the world. Due to the rift the border, the Kailash Mansarover yatra through Sikkim was also cancelled.
This disputed region is the longest standoff between the two armies according to reports. India has pushed more troops in the region in ‘non combative mode’ while China demands India to withdraw its troops from the disputed region citing a 1890 Sino-British treaty for the proof of demarcation of its boundaries.