Indian troops ready for 'long haul' stay

A diplomatic solution to the standoff in China's Doklam is not possible if Indian troops are preparing for a long stay in the area, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news conference in Beijing on Monday.

According to Indian media reports, the Indian troops that illegally entered Doklam are maintaining "a line of supplies" and are ready to stay "for the long haul".

"If the reports are true, then they only prove that India's illegal trespass was organized and premeditated," Geng said. "India is deliberately disrupting the status quo of the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary. How could there be a diplomatic solution if India is ready to stay for the 'long haul' in the border area and does not intend to retreat its troops?"