BEIJING: China has asked the Indian side to immediately withdraw its border troops that have crossed the China-India border, conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and safeguard peace and tranquillity of the Sikkim section on Wednesday. In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Geng Shuang confirmed that the Indian border troops overstepped the China-India boundary at the Sikkim section and there was an ensuing standoff with the Chinese border troops. He said that recently, the Indian border troops crossed the China-India boundary at the Sikkim section and entered the Chinese territory, obstructing Chinese border troops’ normal activities in Doklam and added that the Chinese side has taken proportionate measures in response. Geng Shuang said that the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary was defined by the convention between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet in 1890. The Indian government has repeatedly confirmed that in written forms since India’s independence, recognising that it concurs with China on the trend of the boundary line at the Sikkim section, he added. The spokesperson said that the Chinese side requires the Indian side to respect the boundary convention and China’s territorial sovereignty, immediately withdraw their border troops that have crossed the boundary, conduct a thorough investigation into this and safeguard peace and tranquillity of the Sikkim section. As such, the Chinese side has to put off arranging for Indian officially-organised pilgrims’ entry through Nathu-la mountain pass in the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary out of security concerns, he added. The spokesperson said the Indian side has been informed through the diplomatic channels.