China`s zero tolerance |
China`s insistence on the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Doklam plateau as a precondition for negotiations is consistent with its position on Tibet, Taiwan or the South China Sea — areas of hyper-sensitivity, where Beijing perceives that its “territorial sovereignty” is at stake. While India`s alleged incursion into Chinese territory has grabbed headlines, the Chinese Foreign Ministry over the past week has adopted a similar unbending position on Tibet, embodied in the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Botswana, as well as the moves by the United States to re-open naval port calls with Taiwan. Indonesia`s cartographic dalliance by renaming a portion of the SCS as North Natuna Sea has also drawn Beijing`s ire and China has raised the red flag on Jakarta`s decision to thus issue a new official map. The map apparently intersects a part of the Nine-Dash line, which defines China`s maritime boundary in the SCS, thus rejecting Beijing`s “sovereignty” in the entire area. China is firmly opposed to Dalai`s trip to any country for activities aimed at splitting China in any capacity or name, and contact with any official in any form in any country. In 2016, even Mongolia`s decision to welcome the Dalai Lama in Ulan Bator resulted in Beijing`s decision to impose stringent trade restrictions on its unequal neighbour.
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