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| Dragon at India's door | | | Sushil Vakil | 11/20/2011 9:52:18 PM |
| While India's relations with Pakistan are inching towards normalcy its hostility with China is increasing due to PLA's intrusions into areas under India's occupation since 1962. Surprisingly, despite China's aggressive behaviour and war like postures New Delhi is maintaining calm and using only diplomatic channels to register its protest. It is unfortunate that India doesn't have a well thought-out policy to deal with China.
The way China is building up infrastructure near LAC India needs to take corrective measures soon to defend the country's vast borders. The Chinese 'perceive' the entire Arunachal Pradesh and many parts of Ladakh and Sikkim as theirs. But it is doubtful if any Indian leader will have the political will power to challenge China's military adventures.
Incidently, India and China are two of the most talked about emerging nations; they also are neighbors with one billion-plus populations. Both are advanced in nuclear and warfare technology. So far, China was considered superior to India in nuclear and missile technology but with India's successful launch of Agni Missiles it is coming at par with the former. Four decades after the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict it is amply clear that we are more foes than friends having mutual business interests. Most importantly, all the previous efforts to resolve the border issues had resulted only in India conceding every time and ending up as the loser. One of the most contentious issues between India and China has been the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his people on the Indian soil.
It is amazing that despite Beijing's provocations and intrusions India is taking the situation in a casual way. Indian leaders laughs it off by saying "India-China boundary is one of the most peaceful boundaries. We have no dispute with China in this area. There is an in-built mechanism to deal with such issues. It was only to be expected as India thinks that it is not militarily as much competent as China is. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continues to commend a relationship of peace and goodwill despite these provocations. "I concede that China is far ahead of us in military prowess. They have more conventional weapons as well as nuclear devices. Yet, India is not the same as it was in 1962. It is economically an emerging giant. It may not have allocated as much money to defence as the dangers on its borders warrant," he said.
The boundary problem with China still remains unresolved. It has been flexing muscles off and on. The growing bilateral trade with China is no guarantee that our borders are safe. Beijing has also been expanding its presence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India cannot be expected to speak forcefully against Chinese designs with the kind of military preparedness it has. One reason for this sorry state of affairs appears to be that our armed forces are nowhere in the defence policy and planning loop.
As a matter of fact China has been making up attempts to annex some of the areas under India's occupation since the last six decades. In some attempts it carved out territory while as in other attempts it failed. Recently, Chinese troops entered into Indian territory and destroyed bunkers in Chumar division of Nyoma tashil, some 300 km south of Leh, Ladakh. Last year, PLA troops had crossed over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Demchok, in southeastern Ladakh. Further, there were major border violations by China in 1987 in the Sumdorong Chu Valley where the Chinese had penetrated deep into the Indian territory and constructed a helipad and started bringing in reconna- issance. This had led to a major military buildup and an eyeball-to-eyeball positioning of both the troops.
In 1986, the PLA had built some structure at Wandung in the Sumdorong Chu valley in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Army reacted swiftly and in August 1986, India and China had a serious confrontation. After a tense week, both sides mutually agreed to withdraw their forces and create a no man's land. Today, the Chinese seem to be back again and unfortunately India does not have the guts it had then. Tensions ran very high for several years until the Narasimha Rao regime signed a treaty with the Chinese Government in 1993.
There is no doubt that in 1962, Indian soldiers had to suffer at the hands of the Chinese because they were ill-equipped. The 32-day surprise Chinese invasion in 1962 lasted longer than the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan and claimed the lives of more Indian soldiers. But the present situation is different as India is equally marching ahead economically, militarily and nuclear wise. What will be the implication of possible Sino-Indian full-fledged conflict on border issue? Indian leaders need not worry simply because our forces and machinery is not as much strong as Chinese. The main thing is we have to increase our capability. The recent aggre- ssive behavior of China in foreign affairs is not a reflection of China's actual might - they don't have that sort of power as of yet.
Right now India needs to concentrate on equipping its forces to match Chinese. Otherwise, it is impossible for Indian soldiers to accomplish the task assigned to them in the absence of adequate and dependable infrastructure? India's plan to recruit one lakh soldiers specifically for deployment at the border with China cannot serve the intended purpose unless they have all the facilities required for their effective functioning. In 1962 Indian soldiers suffered at the hands of the Chinese because they were not only poorly trained for mountain warfare but also had poor equipment and clothing. This should not happen if the country faces China again.
It is regrettable that while India is joining club of three in missile technology our service chiefs are warning that India could not take on China as it has the largest army in the world, and even nukes. The Chiefs ought to bear in mind that if China were to attack and nuke us and destroy our cities it can't escape unscathed as India has the capability to strike with equal might. These are not statements for public consumption. Their statements are not only demoralising the people, but also misguiding the govt.
This is the time that Indian army should fully gear up itself as sometime or other it might have to fight both China and Pakistan at two different fronts all together. Moreover, Indian leaders should also view seriously the growing defence ties between China and Pakistan as it will have to bolster its own military capabilities to meet the challenge. |
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