The Sikkim border issue, involving Doka La, can escalate up to war between China and India, Chinese experts have predicted.

In response to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley`s comments that India had changed since 1962 (the last war with China on a similar border issue), Wang Dehua, a professor at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies, said that even China had changed. According to a report in Global Times, Chinese experts have warned that China protect its sovereignty along the 3,488 kilometre India-China border, especially the 220 kilometres in Sikkim, even if it means war.

The report also mentioned that experts felt the issue should be handled carefully and peacefully. Zhao Gancheng, Director of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said, "Both sides should focus on development rather than conflict or war." He added that others, like the US, will take advantage of such a war-like situation in the region.