In reponse to Jaitley's remark, China says it is also different now

"If they are trying to remind us, the situation in 1962 was different and India of 2017 is different," the Defence Minister had said in response to China's statement.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday dismissed Defence Minister Arun Jaitley's remarks that India of 2017 is different from what India of 1962.

Mr. Jaitley, responding to China's oblique reference on June 29 to the war the two countries fought 55 years ago and asking India to learn from "historic lessons", said on June 30, "If they are trying to remind us, the situation in 1962 was different and India of 2017 is different."

The current standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Sikkim sector was triggered by Beijing. The Bhutan government had issued a statement in which it made it clear that the land in question belonged to Bhutan. It is located near India's land and there is an arrangement between India and Bhutan for giving security. The Bhutan government had made its stance clear and China was trying to alter the status quo in the area. "I think after this the issue has become very clear," Mr. Jaitley said.

On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "He is right in saying that India in 2017 is different from 1962, just like China is also different." The border between the two nations in the Sikkim sector was well demarcated under the 1890 Sino-British Treaty. "I would like the Indian side to respect the 1890 treaty immediately and pull back the border troops, which have crossed into Chinese territory back to the Indian side of the boundary. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty," he said.

Mr. Geng also accused India of using Bhutan as a "cover-up" for the "illegal entry" into the Doklam area over which Bhutan has lodged a protest with the Chinese government.

"In order to cover up the illegal entry of the Indian border troops, to distort the fact and even at the expense of Bhutan's independence and sovereignty, they try to confuse right from wrong, that is futile," he said.

China has "no objection to normal bilateral relations between India and Bhutan but firmly opposed to the Indian side infringing on Chinese territory using Bhutan as an excuse," he said.

"The Bhutan side does not know previously that the Indian troops entered into the Doklam area, which is not in line with what is claimed by the Indian side," he observed.

Asked whether any talks are on between India and China to resolve the standoff in the Sikkim sector, he said, "After the illegal entry of border took place, China has lodged solemn representations at different levels with the Indian side in Delhi and Beijing."

"The line of diplomatic communication between two sides is open and smooth," he added.