http://www.scmp.com/news/china/dipl...d-china-agree-disengage-troops-along-disputed
China said India had pulled its troops from the Chinese side of a disputed Himalayan border area on Monday afternoon, after a months-long stand-off.
Earlier in the day, India’s foreign ministry said it had agreed with China to an “expeditious disengagement” of troops from the Doklam plateau, an area close to the borders of China, India and Bhutan.
The announcements come ahead of a meeting in China this weekend of BRICS countries, a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Indian military personnel had pulled out of the Chinese side by 2.30pm on Monday.
“I am pleased to confirm that trespassing Indian personnel have all pulled back to the Indian side of the boundary,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
“Chinese troops continue to patrol on the Chinese side of the boundary.”
The ministry said China would continue to “exercise its sovereign rights and defend territorial sovereignty in accordance with the historical demarcation agreement”.
Indian media reports said both Indian and Chinese troops were slowly being withdrawn from the disputed zone.
Chinese navy’s live-fire drill may be warning shot to India amid ongoing Doklam stand-off
India’s NDTV reported that soldiers from both sides had started pulling out, but the process of removing them would not be completed on Monday.
The move comes a week ahead of a BRICS summit in Xiamen, Fujian province, where Chinese President Xi Jinping will play host to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of three other major emerging economies.
The Chinese foreign ministry said that at the peak of the crisis, up to 400 Indian soldiers and two bulldozers were engaged in the confrontation.
Dr Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedy, a research associate at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, said officials from both sides had worked hard to defuse the tensions.
“The diplomatic channels were open throughout,” Chaturvedy said. “Withdrawing troops will ease some tension and will provide room for both leaders at the BRICS [summit].”
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Waiting for the Indian members to spin this into a victory for Modi.
According to the official Chinese spokesperson, Indian troops have withdrawn, Chinese troops continue to patrol. China maintains all rights over the area, including for building infrastructure.
P.S. Here is a third party source (Washington Post) that says the same thing:
Washington Post - India withdraws troops from disputed Himalayan region, defusing tension with China