China added acrimony to its ongoing diplomatic standoff with India by 'cancelling' a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two leaders gather for the G-20 summit in Germany's Hamburg on Friday.
India, however, clarified that it had never sought any bilateral meeting with the Chinese President, and said there was no change in the PM's schedule.
The bilateral meetings lined up for Modi are with the heads of governments of Argentina, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The terse exchange comes amid a month-long standoff between the two armies on a plateau next to Sikkim, which borders China. Both sides, however, have not ruled out an informal meeting between the two leaders.
On the sidelines of the G-20 summit, a meeting of the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) is also scheduled in Hamburg on Friday. "The meeting is expected to be attended by Modi and Xi Jinping, among other leaders," sources said, implying that both leaders will have an opportunity to meet across the table.
After China said on Thursday that the "atmosphere is not right" for a formal or bilateral meeting, sources in India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We did not ask for a meeting. So where is the question of the atmosphere being conducive or not?"
Around 3,000 troops from both countries have been stationed near the Doklam tri-junction bordering Bhutan, India and China.
Analysts maintain that the latest acrimony may not result in an armed conflict between the two Asian powers, but they agree that the latest standoff, the scale of mobilisation and the harsh language being exchanged is unprecedented.
Tension began after Chinese armed forces, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), reportedly demolished a 10-year-old Indian Army bunker in the Doklam area on June 6. Sources say both governments have been in touch over the situation, but the public announcement by China's foreign office on the bilateral meeting suggests its further hardening of stand.
China has this week issued a series of warnings — some through state-run newspapers — to India about the urgent need for New Delhi to withdraw its troops from an area near Sikkim that Beijing claims as its own.
According to the Chinese interpretation of events, Indian soldiers entered China's Doka La region and obstructed a road project. But Bhutan, which is militarily and diplomatically supported by India, says the area in question is its territory.
Meanwhile, government-run Chinese media warned on Thursday that Beijing may support "pro-independence appeals in Sikkim" if New Delhi does not stop pursuing "regional hegemony" through the border face-off.
"In the past, China was wary of India playing the Dalai Lama card, but this card has already been overplayed, and will exert no additional effect on the Tibet question. But if Beijing adjusts its stance on India-sensitive issues, it could be a powerful card to deal with New Delhi," state-run Global Times said.
The paper, known for gauging hints from inner circles of the Chinese Communist Party and the government, said that Beijing should reconsider its stance over Sikkim. "Although China recognised India's annexation of Sikkim in 2003, it can readjust its stance on the matter," the daily said.
