News Analysis India

Tag: China

  • ‘Unilateral move’: India criticises China for new land border law

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday hit out at China for its “unilateral” decision to bring about a new land border law and said it is a matter of concern as the legislation can have implications on the existing bilateral pacts on border management and on the overall boundary question.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India expects that China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of the law that could unilaterally alter the situation in the India-China border areas.

    He said such a “unilateral move” will have no bearing on the arrangements that both sides have already reached earlier — be it on the boundary question or for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    Last week, China’s national legislature adopted the new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border areas, which could have bearing on Beijing’s border dispute with India.

    “China’s unilateral decision to bring about a legislation which can have implication on our existing bilateral arrangements on border management as well as on the boundary question is of concern to us,” Bagchi said.

    He was replying to a media query on the matter.

    “Such unilateral move will have no bearing on the arrangements that both sides have already reached earlier, whether it is on the boundary question or for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC in India-China border areas,” he said.

    Xinhua news agency reported last week that the law, which becomes operational from January 1 next year, stipulates that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable”.

    “We have noted that China has passed a new ‘Land Boundary Law’ on October 23. The law states among other things that China abides by treaties concluded with or jointly acceded to by foreign countries on land boundary affairs,” Bagchi said.

    He said the legislation also has provisions to carry out reorganisation of districts in the border areas.

    The MEA spokesperson noted that India and China have still not resolved the boundary question and that both sides have agreed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution to it through consultations on an equal footing.

    He said both sides have also concluded several bilateral agreements, protocols and arrangements to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC in India-China border areas in the interim.

    The spokesperson said India expects that China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of this law.

    “Furthermore, the passage of this new law does not in our view confer any legitimacy to the so-called China Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963 which government of India has consistently maintained is an illegal and invalid agreement,” he said.

  • China has no right to interfere with reincarnation process of Dalai Lama: Tawang Monastery head lama

    Express News Service

    TAWANG: Debunking the Communist China’s endeavour to select the successor of the 14th Dalai Lama, the head lama of the important Tawang Monastery said that China has no right to meddle with the process as China does not believe in religion.

    Gyangbung Rinpoche, the Abbot (Head Lama) of the monastery during his interaction with a select group of journalists visiting Tawang Monastery, added that China is creating disputes along the Indian borders as it sees India as a challenge.

    “China which does not believe in religion, has no right to interfere in the religious affairs of ours. China is searching for the successor of 14th Dalai Lama for which only the Dalai Lama has the right. China is trying to politicise this issue and wants to destroy our religion. In this regard, we want India’s support along with other world powers. For this the support of the Indian government is very important,” Rinpoche said.

    Tawang Monastery is the second most important monastery for the Tibetans, after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, as the 6th Dalai Lama was born in Tawang which China has been claiming as the portion of Tibet.

    The Tawang monastery is also known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse in Tibetan meaning ‘celestial paradise in a clear night’ was founded by Merak Lama in 1680-1681 has its effect all over the world. China has adopted an incremental approach in increasing its influence over Tibet and the religious institutions there.

    Calling the Chinese approach not good for it and for the world, Rinpoche said, “The right to find the 15th Dalai Lama is with the Dalai Lama, Tibetan and Himalayan people.” The first Dalai Lama, who is considered as the living reincarnate of Buddha was born in 1391.

    The abbot praised India for its peaceful approach but said it may not work with China which wants to establish its supremacy. “China always tries to control the world, which is totally impossible in the 21st century. It wants to become the superpower in the world. To gain control in Asia, China sees India as a challenge so it wants to overpower India. This is the reason why it is creating unnecessary disputes in India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.

    He also asked India to take stern steps as and when required in dealing with China. “It is good that India wants to stay with peace and tranquillity with the neighbouring country but at the same time it should also harden its approach in dealing with China in such a scenario,” he said.

    There is ensuing tension between India and China since it moved its troops along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. “India is a peace-loving country and I appreciate this. Even after tensions, India always talks of peace and tranquility across the globe. It is good that India wants to stay with peace and tranquility with the neighbouring country but at the same time it should also harden its approach in dealing with China in such a scenario,” said Gyangbung Rinpoche.

    Currently the Tibetan Government in exile is based out of Dharamshala and 14th Dalai Lama who escaped from China is also living there.

    The Head Lama reiterated the old request of conferring the Dalai Lama with India’s highest award Bharat Ratna. “He has grown up in India and wherever in the world he visits he always talks of India’s character of peace, prosperity, culture and religious beliefs,’ he said.

    India has been the birthplace of Buddhism. Lama praised India for its work towards promoting Buddhism. In November-December, a world-level seminar will be held on Buddhism at Nalanda. “I am happy that the government is taking up several projects for Buddhism,” he said.

    India’s land borders or the LAC with China today are essentially those between India and Tibet. Besides a common border, parts of India share cultural linkages with Tibet.

    Until the escape of the Dalai Lama in 1959, there was extensive trade and people-to-people contact between Tibet. One of the most sacred sites for Hindus – Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar – are in Tibet.

  • Danger to stability in South Asia due to China’s ambitions, Sino-Pak nexus ‘anti-Indian’: CDS General Bipin Rawat

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that China’s ambitions and aspirations to global power presented an “omnipresent danger” to stability in South Asia.

    China is making “huge” inroads in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean region to strengthen its position as an emerging global power he said, while delivering the first Ravi Kant Singh Memorial Lecture here.

    “Of late, we are witnessing a geo-strategic competition and huge investment by China in the region to create a favourable posture to provide sufficient security to its interests,” he said.

    Bangladesh and Myanmar have been the largest recipients of Chinese military aid in the recent past, along with significant investments in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives “to gain strategic foothold (in the region),” he said.

    ALSO READ: China’s tech advances in cyber, space domains most worrisome, says CDS General Bipin Rawat

    He added that China’s foray into Myanmar and Bangladesh are not in India’s national interest as these are attempts to ‘engulf India’.

    The lecture was organised in memory of Ravi Kant Singh, a young IPS officer who was killed by ULFA terrorists in Tinsukia in Assam in the late 1990s.

    “There exists an omnipresent danger of regional strategic instability,” Rawat said, adding that it has the potential of ‘threatening India’s territorial integrity and strategic importance’.

    The General also said Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism as well as by non-state actors against India is a stumbling block to peace process between the two countries.

    ALSO READ: Procuring advanced surveillance systems is Indian armed forces’ topmost priority: CDS Bipin Rawat

    He described the ‘partnership’ between Pakistan and China on a range of issues, from China providing military hardware to Pakistan and supporting it in international fora, as an ‘anti-India nexus’.

    Later addressing a press conference, the chief of defence staff said border issues with China has to be viewed in its totality, and not as issues pertaining to the Ladakh sector or North Eastern states.

    “In 2020, there was a little bit of problem (between India and China). Issues are being resolved with talks at different levels, from military to political level,” he said.

    Rawat also said such issues have copped up in the past too between the two neighbours, but have been resolved.

    ALSO READ: India’s armed forces are ready to deal with any security challenge, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    “There are suspicions between the two countries, and hence, it takes time to resolve the issues. The people must have faith and confidence in the system and the armed forces,” he added.

    He said as a measure to counter China’s influence in the region, India has to step up its engagement in neighbouring countries.

    He said, “Chinese have a habit of using money power to gain popularity in a country (they are trying to influence). But as our prime minister has given a clarion call, we believe in security and growth for all.”

    “We have to tell our neighbours that we are here as permanent friends and engage with them on equal terms and we consider all neighbours as equal partners in development,” he added.

    Rawat also emphasized on the need to exploit cultural linkages with the neighbouring countries to strengthen ties.

    On the country’s defence preparedness, Rawat said, “We are standing strong.”

    He said there is adequate defence and arms systems at India’s disposal, and the government has allowed the armed forces to procure needed armaments by invoking emergency powers.

    “No questions are being asked (by the government) as long as our security mechanism improves,” he added.

    Commenting on the recent violence against security forces as well as civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, Rawat said, “Our western adversary (Pakistan) is indulging in a proxy war with us. They will do anything to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

    He also said the killings in Jammu & Kashmir were an attempt by the neighbouring country to spread fear among the people.

    “We should not fear them or fall prey to such traps,” he said, adding that any possible exodus of people from J&K should be stopped.

    To counter Pakistan’s designs, the chief of defence staff said the intelligence network is being strengthened.

    Rawat added that the freedom of movement that people in Jammu & Kashmir were starting to enjoy in recent times may be disrupted due to the current situation and urged for people’s cooperation in tackling the situation.

  • An ambitious China can’t be ignored: Expert

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Taking note of China’s operational doctrine of pursuing the status of world power and aggressively progressing on space, military and cyber fronts, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar on Friday said that India cannot ignore her neighbour’s growing ambitions.

    Speaking on “Preparations for War” at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day conclave to commemorate 50 years of India’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Kumar said that as the country celebrates the golden jubilee, it cannot lose sight of the security scenario it faces today.  India can’t ignore that China no longer wants to remain a regional power, but is aiming for complete military modernisation by 2035 and achieving a world-class military by 2045, he added. 

    ‘China’s space, cyber capabilities growing’

    “We have witnessed China’s capabilities in ship building, landbased conventional ballistic and cruise missiles and its integrated air defence. Its space and cyber capabilities are growing exponentially over the last decade. In December 2015, China set up a PLA (People’s Liberation Army) strategic force, which we know has capabilities to influence the electro-magnetic spectrum, cyber and space spheres.

    All this is changing the way the war is fought,” he said, adding, “As per the data I have, after the USA, China has the largest number of satellites in space, 281, as against 64 from Russia and 33 from India.” Emphasising India’s need to be prepared for a non-conventional war, Kumar said artificial intelligence, robotics and information, cyber and space warfare play an important role as new technologies have a disruptive effect in the defence of any country. Kumar said, “It is going to change the symmetry between military powers and the potential to disrupt existing policies and doctrines.

    We need to prepare for that while recognising that China in its doctrine has prioritised what it calls ‘intelligentised war’.” He said cyber incidents in India have been growing significantly over the last two years. “These are across sectors, including defence, and there is a need to focus on Grey Zone and Information Warfare,” he added. “It is important that we do not lose sight of how things have changed and how we need to be prepared manifold to face the kind of security scenario today.

    We now have a situation in which there are multiple flash points that potentially convert into difficult situations,” he said, citing the example Galwan Valley standoff in May 2020. “It was effectively controlled by prompt and effective action by our armed forces, but the position on the border continues to be tense and the fact that our adversary continues to ramp up both infrastructure and assets across the border remains a matter of concern,” said the top official in the defence ministry.

    On China’s increased activities in the South China Sea, he said it is unilaterally claiming the disputes as its own. “We continue to see cross-border proxy war and facilitation of terrorism, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. The situation in Afghanistan today has posed potentials for new challenges which could happen at any point of time. We do also see the presence of Chinese research vessels, fishing boats and seemingly other benign presence which could have more serious implications.”

    The officer said India is taking several measures, including modernisation of forces, making procurement processes quicker, integration of forces and improving infrastructure along the borders. “The Air Force has been taking up modernisation in the last 4-5 years. In the last five years, 2.5 lakh crore has been spent on modernisation of the Indian Air Force,” he added.

  • Our leaders will routinely travel to Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state: India tells China

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday strongly rejected China’s objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, asserting that the state is an “integral and inalienable” part of India.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India “does not stand to reason and understanding” of Indian people.

    “We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India,” Bagchi said.

    He was responding to a question on comments by a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry objecting to Naidu’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh over the weekend.

    “Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people,” Bagchi said.

    China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it is a part of South Tibet.

    The fresh war of words between the two sides came three days after the 13th round of military talks on the 17-month eastern Ladakh standoff ended in a stalemate.

    “Further, as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements,” Bagchi said.

    The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as Western Sector.

    “Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues,” Bagchi said.

    A day after the 13th round of military talks, Indian Army said the “constructive suggestions” made by it were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor it could provide any “forward-looking” proposals.

    On its part, the Chinese PLA’s Western Theatre Command said India insisted on “unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations.”

  • Rahul Gandhi attacks govt over issue of Chinese incursions in Ladakh, Uttarakhand

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the government over alleged Chinese incursions in Ladakh and Uttarakhand.

    He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi using his 56-inch chest remark that he made at rallies in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

    “China plus Pakistan plus ‘Mr 56 inch’ is equal to Increasing Chinese occupation of India’s land,” he said in a tweet in Hindi, while referring to Ladakh and Uttarakhand.

    Close to 100 soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Barahoti sector in Uttarakhand on August 30.

    The Chinese troops returned from the area after spending few hours, people familiar with the development had said.

    There was no official comment on the Chinese transgression.

    The incident came amid a continuing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in a number of areas in eastern Ladakh though both sides completed disengagement in two sensitive locations.

    The Chinese side has also significantly ramped up infrastructure development along the LAC in the sector.

    India has been maintaining a strict vigil along the nearly 3,500-km LAC following the eastern Ladakh standoff.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year in eastern Ladakh following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

    Gandhi and his Congress party have been attacking the government over alleged Chinese incursions in Ladakh.

  • Increased Chinese deployment across border matter of concern: Indian Army chief

    By ANI

    LEH: Expressing hope that the pending issues between India and China along the Line of Actual Control would be resolved soon, Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane said the increase in the deployment by Chinese troops across the border was a matter of concern.

    He said India had made matching deployments in terms of troops and infrastructure in its areas along the LAC and there was no way anyone would be able to behave in an aggressive manner again.

    Speaking to ANI, Gen Naravane, who is in Ladakh for his two-day visit, said, “The situation at friction points has been normal for the past six months. The talks have been going on. We had the 12th round of talks last month, and also hopeful of having the 13th round of talks, maybe by the second week of October.”

    He added, “When the talks had started, people were doubtful whether talks would resolve anything, but I am of the firm opinion that we can resolve our differences with dialogue and that is what has happened in the past few months.”

    The army chief said, “The Chinese have deployed (their forces) in considerable numbers across Eastern Ladakh and up to eastern command. There has been an increase in the deployment and it is a matter of concern for us. We are also carrying out matching developments in terms of infrastructure and deployment of troops. We are quite poised in order to meet any eventuality.”

  • ED seizes Rs 131-crore funds of Chinese-controlled NBFC for foreign exchange law violation

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate Thursday said it has seized over Rs-131 crore funds of a Chinese national-owned NBFC for alleged violation of foreign exchange law.

    The non-banking financial company (NBFC) is PC Financial Services Pvt Ltd and it was in the business of providing instant personal micro loans through its mobile application ‘Cashbean’ for suspicious foreign outward remittances.

    This case came under the ED radar during a separate money laundering probe against a number of NBFCs and FinTech companies which are linked to instant personal loans providing mobile apps.

    These loans were being dished out with a “high rate of interest and recovered using personal data of the customer illegally and threatening and abusing them through call centers”.

    The alleged illegalities of these apps were reported from a number of states last year, especially following the COVID-19 lockdown economic stress, and a number of people were reported to have been driven to end their lives due to the extortion and bullying of these “dubious” companies.

    “PCFS is a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) of Oplay Digital Services, SA de CV, Mexico, which is in turn a WOS of Tenspot Pesa Limited, Hong Kong which is owned by Cayman Islands based Opera Limited and Wisdom Connection I Holding Inc which are ultimately beneficially owned by Chinese National Zhou Yahui,” the ED said in a statement.

    The original Indian company PCFS was incorporated in 1995 by Indian nationals and it got NBFC license in 2002 and after an RBI approval in 2018, the ownership moved to the Chinese controlled company.

    PCFS, the ED alleged, “illegally” remitted huge funds outside India in the guise of imports of non-existent software and marketing services to park the funds abroad and hold them in the accounts of related foreign companies.

    “Thus, PCFS has contravened provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMS). RBI has been informed about the above contraventions,” it said.

    The ED has seized a total of Rs 131.11 crore worth funds kept in various bank and payment gateway accounts, under the provisions of the FEMA.

    It has similarly seized Rs 106.93 crore worth funds of the same NBFC in August.

    Probe found that the foreign parent companies of PCFS brought FDI (foreign direct investment) of Rs 173 crore for lending business and within a short span of time, made foreign outward remittances of Rs 429.29 crore in the name of payments for software services received from related foreign companies, it said.

    “PCFS also showed high domestic expenditure of Rs 941 crore. Detailed investigation into the foreign expenses paid by the NBFC revealed that most of the payments were made to foreign companies, which are related and owned by the same Chinese nationals, who own the Opera Group.”

    “All foreign service providers were chosen by the Chinese owners and the price of the services was also fixed by them,” it said.

    Exorbitant payments were blindly allowed by the “dummy” Indian directors of PCFS without any due diligence and on the instructions of the country head Zhang Hong, who directly reported to Zhou Yahui, a resident of China, it said.

    PCFS, it said, remitted forex of Rs 429 crore to 13 companies located in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, USA and Singapore in the guise of payments for license fee for Cashbean mobile app (Rs 245 crore per annum), software technical fee (of around Rs 110 crore) and online marketing and advertisement fee (about Rs 66 crore).

    “All these services and applications are available in India at a fraction of the cost incurred by PCFS,” the ED claimed.

    Moreover, all the clients of the NBFC was in India, despite that huge payments were made abroad and no proof of receipt of service is there, it said.

    During the same period of time, the ED said, PCFS also booked domestic expenditure of similar amount under the same heads of expenditure.

    “PCFS management failed to give any justification for these expenses and admitted that all remittances were done to move money out of India and to park it abroad in the accounts of group companies controlled by the Chinese promoter,” it said.

  • India should use its island territories as aircraft carrier

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  To ramp up the country’s security ring in the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of worrisome Chinese activities, India should utilise its island territories and use the peninsular mainland territory to its optimum, says a senior government official.

    Commenting on the third aircraft carrier for Indian Navy, the official said: “India should develop its island territory as an unsinkable aircraft carrier and also use the peninsular landmass jutting into the Indian Ocean to its advantage.”

    On the Chinese threat in the Indian Ocean with a possible deployment of its aircraft carrier in the future, the official said China has other areas which need focus. “The Chinese have other priorities such as Taiwan and Japan before they can come to Indian Ocean. And if they try to deploy a carrier, we are capable enough to handle them, he added.

    The Indian Navy has been pitching for the third aircraft carrier for long. The logic put across is that the country should have at least two active carriers at any given time. In such a case availability of three aircraft carriers will give options of deploying one each on the eastern and western seaboard and the third can be put to the maintenance and repair cycle. 

    China has been constructing aircraft carriers at a fast pace with a projected plan to operate 10 carriers by 2050. At present their third and most advanced aircraft carrier is being built with the first one, Liaoning, being commissioned in 2012 and second, Shandong, ready in 2019.

  • Arunachal MLAs unite to arrest exodus of China border residents through development

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh MLAs representing constituencies along the China border have come together to try and thwart the exodus of border residents through development initiatives.Eleven Assembly constituencies in the state share their border with China and their inhabitants are considered India’s first line of defence. They have never failed in reporting transgressions by the Chinese troops.However, in the past few years, there has been a steady outmigration of the villagers to state capital Itanagar and other urban areas for livelihood. The border areas remained backward primarily due to geographical factors – they are remote and virtually inaccessible.The MLAs representing the border districts, who met in Itanagar on Saturday, formed the “Indo-China Border Development Legislators’ Forum of Arunachal Pradesh”.Assembly Speaker Passang Dorjee Sona, who represents the picturesque Mechuka constituency in Shi Yomi district, was appointed as its chairman.Sona said the legislators were concerned over the exodus of the villagers. He said the meeting was imperative to discuss and find ways to tackle the menace.“The border residents lack basic amenities and they tend to migrate to urban areas for a better life. The only way we can check it is by giving opportunities to them through development initiatives,” Sona said.The other MLAs agreed. They suggested the formation of the forum of border legislators, stating that this would help them take up the border issues in cohesion.The legislators felt that the modification of existing guidelines of Border Area Development Programme was the call of time. They advocated enhanced funds allocation and block-wise utilisation certification by abolishing the practice of collective submission.The MLAs are likely to submit their suggestions to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who hails from Tawang, a western Arunachal district perched on the China border.