China's warning to India 'unexpected', talks must follow: CPI

The Communist Party of India (CPI) today said the "severe warning" from the Chinese side on the border standoff with India was "a bit surprising", but called for settling the issue through talks.
CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said it's "very unfortunate that the Chinese have given a severe warning" to India.
China, which is playing an "important role in the world", should not use "such type of terminology", he said, adding that it was unexpected.
Beijing yesterday ruled out a compromise in the military standoff with India in the Sikkim section, and put the onus on New Delhi to resolve the "grave" situation.

In unusually blunt remarks, China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said, "The ball is in India's court" and it was for the Indian government to decide what options could be on the table to resolve the standoff.
The Chinese official media today stepped up its attack on India with editorials asking its troops to move out of Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector "with dignity or be kicked out" and describing the situation as "worryingly tense".

While China's nationalistic tabloid 'Global Times' said India should be taught a "bitter lesson", another official newspaper, 'China Daily', said New Delhi should look in the mirror.

Asked about the bellicose statements emanating from the Chinese side, the CPI leader said the issue should be settled through talks.
"As neighbours, we should try to settle the issue through discussions. The increase in tensions is very unfortunate. This should be settled amicably," Reddy told PTI.
Reddy said it's a "bit surprising" such a severe warning was given to India from the Chinese side. "We should not escalate things further. After all, whether it's China, Pakistan or Bangladesh, we have to live as permanent neighbours and we should try to settle the issue peacefully."
Asked if he agreed with the statement of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley that the India of 2017 was different from what it was in 1962, the Left leader avoided a direct reply and stressed on amicably settling the issue.

But the veteran Communist leader added a peaceful atmosphere was needed.
"It is true that it's not 1962 now, it's 2017. Naturally, there may be several differences, several changes that have taken place. The thing is it's not the question of accepting something from Arun Jaitley or not. It's a question of amicably settling the issue."
China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan trijunction for several days now. The trouble started when the Chinese tried to build a road in the sector. China claims Dokalam as part of its Donglang region.