News Analysis India

Tag: India-China face off

  • Army will not let China change status quo along LAC ‘unilaterally’: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Indian Army will not let China change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) “unilaterally” and its current deployment along the frontier was not seen before, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, rejecting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government’s handling of the border row.

    Jaishankar said the deployment of the Army was made on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Army did not go to the frontier region because Gandhi asked them for it.

    “Today we have a deployment of the Indian Army on the China border that we have never had. It is done in order to counter Chinese deployment which was scaled up massively since 2020,” Jaishankar said.

    He was replying to a question during India Today’s India-Japan conclave.

    “If we were in denial then how is the Army out there? The Army did not go there because Rahul Gandhi asked them to go. Army went there because the prime minister of India ordered them to go,” Jaishankar said, replying to Gandhi’s allegations that the government was hiding the fact that China took Indian territory along the LAC.

    The Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9. The incident came amid the over 30-month border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

    ALSO READ | Accused of altering status quo, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash 

    “People will say things; they may not be credible, they may sometimes contradict their own positions, their own behaviour. All that could happen. But the fact is what is finally the proof of the pudding? The proof of the pudding is that the Indian Army is deployed today to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the LAC,” Jaishankar said.

    The external affairs minister said it is the commitment of the Indian Army to not let China change the LAC unilaterally.

    “I am saying that it is the obligation of the Indian state and that is the duty and commitment of the Indian military that we will not let any country, and in this case, China, change the LAC unilaterally,” Jaishankar said.

    “I think it is fairly obvious and most people in the country see that. You can make your polemical points. I think people will treat it as politics,” he added.

    Asked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism of the government for increasing trade volume with China notwithstanding the border row, he said that India continues to import from that country because there was no adequate focus on the manufacturing sector.

    Jaishankar said not much attention was given to the MSME sector and building supply chains as well after India opened up its economy in 1991.

    “When somebody says why imports are coming out of China, there are imports coming out of China because, for 30 years, you did not give your industry the kind of support and protection you should have,” Jaishankar said.

    “It is only now in recent years that you have started to do it. Now you cannot reverse in five or 10 years what you have done in 30 years,” he said.

    Speaking at the conclave, Jaishankar made 12 points about India-Japan ties and said the two countries have a “positive history” that will be an asset in the coming times.

    He said Japan is perceived in India as a model of harmonising modernity and tradition, adding there is a strong national consensus in India on developing ties with that country.

    “Traditionally, this was an economic relationship. In the past, global strategy had little impact on India-Japan ties,” he said.

    “Businesses have long had a footprint in each other’s economy. But, this did not become a deep one. Japan started approaching India with a strategic outlook under former PM Shinzo Abe,” he said.

    Jaishankar said Japan has been a catalyst of “change” and referred to Maruti bringing a lifestyle shift and Metro networks, an urbanization experience. “Bullet Train will have major consequences,” he said.

    Japan has been significantly supporting the Delhi Metro network. “Our strategic compulsions are much stronger today as we are united to secure a multipolar Asia. And to ensure that Asian diversity is reflected in its power structure,” the minister said.

    He noted that the maritime convergence between India and Japan is particularly strong and will grow in the years ahead. “The energy of the Quad will charge up our bilateral ties and reinforce them for mutual benefit,” he said, adding the big question is whether Japan will see India’s growth as a strategic goal.

    NEW DELHI:  Indian Army will not let China change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) “unilaterally” and its current deployment along the frontier was not seen before, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, rejecting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government’s handling of the border row.

    Jaishankar said the deployment of the Army was made on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Army did not go to the frontier region because Gandhi asked them for it.

    “Today we have a deployment of the Indian Army on the China border that we have never had. It is done in order to counter Chinese deployment which was scaled up massively since 2020,” Jaishankar said.

    He was replying to a question during India Today’s India-Japan conclave.

    “If we were in denial then how is the Army out there? The Army did not go there because Rahul Gandhi asked them to go. Army went there because the prime minister of India ordered them to go,” Jaishankar said, replying to Gandhi’s allegations that the government was hiding the fact that China took Indian territory along the LAC.

    The Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9. The incident came amid the over 30-month border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

    ALSO READ | Accused of altering status quo, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash 

    “People will say things; they may not be credible, they may sometimes contradict their own positions, their own behaviour. All that could happen. But the fact is what is finally the proof of the pudding? The proof of the pudding is that the Indian Army is deployed today to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the LAC,” Jaishankar said.

    The external affairs minister said it is the commitment of the Indian Army to not let China change the LAC unilaterally.

    “I am saying that it is the obligation of the Indian state and that is the duty and commitment of the Indian military that we will not let any country, and in this case, China, change the LAC unilaterally,” Jaishankar said.

    “I think it is fairly obvious and most people in the country see that. You can make your polemical points. I think people will treat it as politics,” he added.

    Asked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism of the government for increasing trade volume with China notwithstanding the border row, he said that India continues to import from that country because there was no adequate focus on the manufacturing sector.

    Jaishankar said not much attention was given to the MSME sector and building supply chains as well after India opened up its economy in 1991.

    “When somebody says why imports are coming out of China, there are imports coming out of China because, for 30 years, you did not give your industry the kind of support and protection you should have,” Jaishankar said.

    “It is only now in recent years that you have started to do it. Now you cannot reverse in five or 10 years what you have done in 30 years,” he said.

    Speaking at the conclave, Jaishankar made 12 points about India-Japan ties and said the two countries have a “positive history” that will be an asset in the coming times.

    He said Japan is perceived in India as a model of harmonising modernity and tradition, adding there is a strong national consensus in India on developing ties with that country.

    “Traditionally, this was an economic relationship. In the past, global strategy had little impact on India-Japan ties,” he said.

    “Businesses have long had a footprint in each other’s economy. But, this did not become a deep one. Japan started approaching India with a strategic outlook under former PM Shinzo Abe,” he said.

    Jaishankar said Japan has been a catalyst of “change” and referred to Maruti bringing a lifestyle shift and Metro networks, an urbanization experience. “Bullet Train will have major consequences,” he said.

    Japan has been significantly supporting the Delhi Metro network. “Our strategic compulsions are much stronger today as we are united to secure a multipolar Asia. And to ensure that Asian diversity is reflected in its power structure,” the minister said.

    He noted that the maritime convergence between India and Japan is particularly strong and will grow in the years ahead. “The energy of the Quad will charge up our bilateral ties and reinforce them for mutual benefit,” he said, adding the big question is whether Japan will see India’s growth as a strategic goal.

  • BJP govt ‘talks like a lion, acts like a mouse’: Congress chief Kharge on border face-off

    By PTI

    ALWAR (Rajasthan): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the BJP government “talks like a lion but acts like a mouse” as it is not taking on China for indulging in incursions along the border and is running away from a debate on the issue in Parliament.

    Speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Alwar on the sidelines of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he also claimed that while the Congress stood for the country, helped attain Independence and its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, the BJP people “did not even lose a dog” for the country.

    The 80-year-old leader said when Rahul Gandhi talked about the border dispute with China at a presser recently, BJP leaders raised the matter alleging that he was trying to break the country and that he has no respect for Indian soldiers The Modi government claims that they are very strong, it pats itself on the back claiming no one can look into its eyes, but disputes and clashes are rising at the border, Kharge said.

    “After 20 of our soldiers were martyred at the border in Galwan, Modi ji met the Chinese president 18 times. They held meetings and even enjoyed swings. After all this, why is this happening at the border with China?” he said.

    Kharge said he again raised the issue of China in Parliament on Monday and wanted a discussion on the border situation, but the BJP government is not ready for it.

    ALSO READ | China preparing for war, Indian government asleep: Rahul Gandhi

    “They (BJP government) talk like a lion outwardly, but if you see they act like a mouse. We want that the issue be discussed and give notices, but they are still not ready for a discussion in Parliament,” he said.

    This government talks loudly, but is only destroying democracy, he alleged.

    “Every day the rights of the autonomous bodies are being taken away. ED, CBI, and CVC are trying to scare everyone by misusing their powers. They are also trying to scare the Congress people, but we will never be scared,” he said.

    The Congress got the country Independence, and several of our leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, gave sacrifices, Kharge said.

    “Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still, they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals),” the Congress chief said.

    Kharge said it was surprising that his party’s demand for a discussion on the Chinese incursions at the border was not allowed. “They said there is no need for a discussion.”

    “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh came and gave a one-page statement and left. But we needed a discussion on what is happening with China, what the government is doing and what is the state of our border and soldiers. We are with the country for national security, and we will all together protect the country. But why are you hiding and running away from a discussion over China,” he said, adding that the Congress is only seeking information on what is happening.

    ALSO READ | Accused of altering status quo, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash 

    Today this BJP government does not think about the farmers, he alleged and reminded the ruling party of its promise of doubling the farmers’ income. “Farmers were crushed to death by the home minister’s son under a jeep, no action is taken, inflation has increased so much today,” he said.

    Unemployment has skyrocketed while 30 lakh government posts are lying vacant in the country, Kharge said. “By giving a letter of 71,000 jobs, do event management, but 30 lakh jobs are vacant in the public sector. Why are you not filling them up? They (BJP) want to keep the poor while making their friends richer,” the Congress president said.

    He also exuded confidence that Congress would win the 2024 general elections, citing the affection the Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is getting.

    Kharge also accused the BJP of dividing the people of the country on lines of religion, caste and region and alleged that it is ending democracy and autonomy of constitutional institutions. “That is why Rahul Gandhi is holding the Bharat Jodo Yatra and is trying to unite everyone,” he claimed.

    Earlier in the day, Kharge raised the issue of the border conflict with China in the Rajya Sabha and demanded a discussion on the issue.

    “China is illegally encroaching upon our borders. Satellite imagery shows that they are building divisional headquarters, army garrison and weapon shelters for artillery. Why is the Modi government shying away from ‘China pe charcha’?” he asked on Twitter.

    China is illegally encroaching upon our borders.Satellite imagery shows that they are building divisional headquarters, army garrison and weapon shelters for artillery.Why is the Modi Govt shying away from ‘CHINA PE CHARCHA’ ? pic.twitter.com/2HRLndXM0Y
    — Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (@LoPIndia) December 19, 2022

    ALWAR (Rajasthan): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the BJP government “talks like a lion but acts like a mouse” as it is not taking on China for indulging in incursions along the border and is running away from a debate on the issue in Parliament.

    Speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Alwar on the sidelines of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he also claimed that while the Congress stood for the country, helped attain Independence and its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, the BJP people “did not even lose a dog” for the country.

    The 80-year-old leader said when Rahul Gandhi talked about the border dispute with China at a presser recently, BJP leaders raised the matter alleging that he was trying to break the country and that he has no respect for Indian soldiers The Modi government claims that they are very strong, it pats itself on the back claiming no one can look into its eyes, but disputes and clashes are rising at the border, Kharge said.

    “After 20 of our soldiers were martyred at the border in Galwan, Modi ji met the Chinese president 18 times. They held meetings and even enjoyed swings. After all this, why is this happening at the border with China?” he said.

    Kharge said he again raised the issue of China in Parliament on Monday and wanted a discussion on the border situation, but the BJP government is not ready for it.

    ALSO READ | China preparing for war, Indian government asleep: Rahul Gandhi

    “They (BJP government) talk like a lion outwardly, but if you see they act like a mouse. We want that the issue be discussed and give notices, but they are still not ready for a discussion in Parliament,” he said.

    This government talks loudly, but is only destroying democracy, he alleged.

    “Every day the rights of the autonomous bodies are being taken away. ED, CBI, and CVC are trying to scare everyone by misusing their powers. They are also trying to scare the Congress people, but we will never be scared,” he said.

    The Congress got the country Independence, and several of our leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, gave sacrifices, Kharge said.

    “Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still, they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals),” the Congress chief said.

    Kharge said it was surprising that his party’s demand for a discussion on the Chinese incursions at the border was not allowed. “They said there is no need for a discussion.”

    “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh came and gave a one-page statement and left. But we needed a discussion on what is happening with China, what the government is doing and what is the state of our border and soldiers. We are with the country for national security, and we will all together protect the country. But why are you hiding and running away from a discussion over China,” he said, adding that the Congress is only seeking information on what is happening.

    ALSO READ | Accused of altering status quo, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash 

    Today this BJP government does not think about the farmers, he alleged and reminded the ruling party of its promise of doubling the farmers’ income. “Farmers were crushed to death by the home minister’s son under a jeep, no action is taken, inflation has increased so much today,” he said.

    Unemployment has skyrocketed while 30 lakh government posts are lying vacant in the country, Kharge said. “By giving a letter of 71,000 jobs, do event management, but 30 lakh jobs are vacant in the public sector. Why are you not filling them up? They (BJP) want to keep the poor while making their friends richer,” the Congress president said.

    He also exuded confidence that Congress would win the 2024 general elections, citing the affection the Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is getting.

    Kharge also accused the BJP of dividing the people of the country on lines of religion, caste and region and alleged that it is ending democracy and autonomy of constitutional institutions. “That is why Rahul Gandhi is holding the Bharat Jodo Yatra and is trying to unite everyone,” he claimed.

    Earlier in the day, Kharge raised the issue of the border conflict with China in the Rajya Sabha and demanded a discussion on the issue.

    “China is illegally encroaching upon our borders. Satellite imagery shows that they are building divisional headquarters, army garrison and weapon shelters for artillery. Why is the Modi government shying away from ‘China pe charcha’?” he asked on Twitter.

    China is illegally encroaching upon our borders.
    Satellite imagery shows that they are building divisional headquarters, army garrison and weapon shelters for artillery.
    Why is the Modi Govt shying away from ‘CHINA PE CHARCHA’ ? pic.twitter.com/2HRLndXM0Y
    — Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (@LoPIndia) December 19, 2022

  • India, China face off along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Troops of India and China were engaged in a face-off along the Line of Actual Control in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as the patrols of two countries came face to face at one location.

    Sources in the defence establishment said the face-off took place between the two sides last week and the troops disengaged after the talks between the two local commanders as per existing protocols.

    The face-off lasted for a few hours before the troops disengaged and Indian troops outnumbered the Chinese at the location, sources said.

    There was no damage to the Indian defences in the face-off that took place between the two sides at the location, they said.

    Since the India-China border has not been formally demarcated and hence there is a difference in perception of LAC between the countries.

    “Peace and tranquillity in these areas of differing perceptions have been possible by adherence to existing agreements and protocols between the two countries,” they said.

    Sources said both sides undertake patrolling activities upto their line of perception.

    Whenever patrols of both sides physically meet, the situation is managed according to established protocols and mechanisms agreed by both sides. Physical engagement can last for a few hours prior to disengaging as per mutual understanding, they said.

    Earlier in August, India and China had disengaged troops from the Gogra heights area and moved them back to their permanent bases.

    In the 12th round of military talks, India and China had agreed to disengage troops from patrolling point 17A, one of the friction points between the two countries in the eastern Ladakh region. 

  • Indian Army rapidly develops infra for troops at LAC in Ladakh, northeast

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army, engaged in a military stand-off with the Chinese army for more than a year, has developed infrastructure and now the capability to accommodate a large number of troops in the habitats that have been built in the Ladakh sector and other areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    These habitats would allow the troops to function efficiently even during the harsh winters experienced in Ladakh and sustain them through temperatures which sometimes go down to minus 45 degrees.

    “Due to the military stand-off with China, the Indian Army has been able to complete the work planned in next five years in the last 12 months itself. The number of troops which can be easily accommodated and stationed in the Ladakh sector alone in the newly constructed habitats would be more than double the number of troops presents there,” government sources told ANI.

    According to estimates, both India and China have deployed more than 50,000 troops in the Eastern Ladakh sector opposite each other despite the limited disengagement in the Pangong lake sector by both sides earlier this year.

    The sources said that the Corps of Engineers are still working all along the LAC to erect structures for the troops to operate there and accommodate additional forces if the need arises.

    India has also been working to develop the road infrastructure in all the sectors along the LAC and has speeded up work on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha axis which is going to help troops move to Ladakh from other parts of the country round the year.

    The defence ministry is also set to soon clear a proposal to allow the BRO to construct a 4.5 km-long tunnel for connectivity on the new road.

    The road connectivity to all the forward locations has also been made available much before the due dates by the Army engineers.

    The military standoff between the two sides had started in the month of April- May last year when the Chinese used a summer military exercise to divert troops for aggression along the Indian territory in the eastern Ladakh areas while they built up troops along in the Sikkim sector and other locations in the northeast to pressurize India.