Liu Youfa, a former Chinese diplomat, said the Indian troops deployed at the disputed Donglang area (also called Doklam) could withdraw, be captured or killed.

Youfa's statement is significant as he was the former Chinese consulate general in Mumbai.

China blames Indian soldiers of illegally entering its territory in Donglang and stopping its troops from building a road.

Bhutan claims Donglang as its territory.

NSA Doval to visit Beijing for BRICS meeting

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is traveling to Beijing later this month for the BRICS NSA's meeting.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the meeting, hosted by Doval's counterpart Yang Jiechi, will take place on July 27-28.

Baglay said that on the Sikkim standoff, diplomatic communications between India and China have continued.

He said India is looking for a peaceful solution.

What Liu said

Liu said as per his understanding of international law, soldiers trespassing into another country's territory "naturally become enemies." He said such soldiers "can go out voluntarily, or they may be captured or when the border dispute should escalate, they may be killed."

Liu says India-China can't 'afford to be hostile'

Liu said construction of roads by China are no grounds for India to deploy troops.

He said India is also building airfields and roads in its territory along its border and "…you cannot stop China from doing the same."

He said both countries are "great neighbors" and "cannot afford to be hostile to each other."

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