(CNN) The Chinese government has issued a warning to neighboring India to withdraw its troops from the disputed Doklam border area to "avoid further escalation of the situation." The comments, made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang during a regular press briefing Tuesday, come amid what has evolved into an increasingly bitter and entrenched border dispute between the two nations. On Monday, China conducted live-fire drills in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau close to the site of the current standoff. Territorial claimsThe Doklam dispute is the latest in a long-running series of territorial flare-ups between India and China. A Chinese soldier (L) and an Indian soldier stand guard at the Chinese side of the ancient Nathu La border crossing between India and China.

Source: CNN July 19, 2017 11:43 UTC