In its strongest statement yet on the stand-off in Doklam, China's People's Liberation Army said on Monday it would "safeguard China's sovereignty whatever the cost", and demanded a withdrawal of Indian troops as the "basis" for resolution.

The PLA told India to not "harbour any illusions", and revealed it had undertaken an "emergency response" measure in response to the incident and would "further step up deployments" in the area.

At a special briefing ahead of the PLA's 90th anniversary which falls on August 1, the PLA put out a strong message on the Doklam stand-off.

"Shaking a mountain is difficult," Senior Colonel Wu Qian of the PLA said in a message to India, adding: "Shaking the PLA is even more difficult."

Senior Colonel Wu, also the Ministry of National Defence spokesperson, said that "the history of the PLA over the past 90 years has proven our resolve to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are capability and resolve are indomitable."

He strongly defended China's road construction on the Doklam plateau, which China calls Donglang. "In the middle of June, the Chinese military was undertaking the construction of a road. Donglang is China's territory and China building a road on its territory is normal, which is an act of China's sovereignty and is legitimate."

WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS REMAINS THE MOOT POINT

"The crossing of the mutually recognised international border by India is a serious violation of China's territory and runs against international law. The willingness and resolve of China to defend its sovereignty is indomitable and we will safeguard our sovereignty whatever the cost," he said.

Senior Colonel Wu said that the Chinese border troops "have undertaken emergency response measures in the area and will further step up deployment and training in response to this situation."

"We strongly urge the Indian side to withdraw its troops back from the border line of the two countries. This is the basis for settling the issue," he said, adding that "peace and security of border areas conforms with the interest of both Chinese and Indian people."

"We strongly urge the Indian side to take concrete measures to correct its errors and put an end to its provocative acts, and join with the Chinese side to jointly maintain peace and stability in border areas," he added.

Even as China has kept up its strong rhetoric on the stand-off and has insisted on India's withdrawal as a precondition for talks, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will be in Beijing later this week for a BRICS NSA's meet that will take place on July 28. China's State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who along with Doval is the special representative on the boundary negotiations, will also attend the meet.

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