Bipin Rawat in Sikkim as China rakes up 1962

On a day when Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat visited Sikkim following a fortnight-long military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops on the eastern frontier, the Chinese Army sounded a warning to its Indian counterpart.

Despite repeated Chinese accusations of incursion by the Indian Army, New Delhi has not responded through a formal statement.

As the standoff is expected to get prolonged, according to sources, People's Liberation Army (PLA) spokesman Col Wu Qian on Thursday asked the Indian Army to learn "historical lessons", referring to India's defeat in the 1962 war.

He called Rawat's recent remarks that India was ready for a "two-and-a-half front war" "extremely irresponsible."

Rawat's comment was interpreted as reflecting India's concerns regarding Pakistan, China and its own internal security.

"We hope that the particular person in the Indian Army could learn from historical lessons and stop clamouring for war," Qian said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang displayed two photographs of the alleged Indian 'incursion' into Donglong area during a media briefing.

"Since the illegal trespass happened, we have lodged solemn representations with the Indian side in both New Delhi and Beijing," Lu said.

Rawat reached Sikkim on Thursday to review the situation on the border as flare-ups led to the prolonged face-off. The Indian Army played down the visit, saying it was scheduled before the standoff. General Rawat visited areas under the 17 Mountain Division, tasked to guard the India-China border in the Sikkim sector, and was also briefed on operational preparedness.

Beijing has blamed India for the tension by obstructing road construction in Donglong, a disputed territory between China and Bhutan. China asked India to withdraw its troops from Donglong region to end the standoff.

The face-off was sparked in Doka La, falling in the strategic Chumbi Valley, at a tri junction bordering India, China and Bhutan. The Doka La region is of great military importance to India as it is connected to the Siliguri corridor, providing direct access to road and rail connectivity to North-eastern Indian states. Bhutan in a statement said that Chinese started construction of a road in Dokalam on June 16. "Bhutan has conveyed to Chinese side, both on the ground and through diplomatic channel, that construction of the road is direct violation of agreements," the statement said.

Transgressions and incursions between Indian and Chinese troops are not uncommon in the disputed territory between two countries but are mostly played down by security agencies.