Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday maintained that India is ready to counter any unforeseen situation in Doklam, which had become a potential flashpoint with China. “We are alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity,” Sitharaman told reporters. Her comments came a day after Indian envoy to China Gautam Bambawale said that the Doklam crisis started because the Chinese military changed the status quo in the region. In a significant step that is being seen as an attempt to mend fences with Beijing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Qingdao in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on June 9-10, Bambawale has confirmed.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday maintained that India is ready to counter any unforeseen situation in Doklam, which had become a potential flashpoint with China. “We are alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity,” Sitharaman told reporters. Her comments came a day after Indian envoy to China Gautam Bambawale said that the Doklam crisis started because the Chinese military changed the status quo in the region. In a significant step that is being seen as an attempt to mend fences with Beijing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Qingdao in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on June 9-10, Bambawale has confirmed.