Indeed, it’s this boundary that is the biggest irritant in Sino-India relations, as neither country agrees with the other’s perception about where exactly the line should be drawn. India believes that for all China’s professed desire to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the festering boundary issue, the country has not budged from its more than three-decades position, and they note that despite frequent meetings of special representatives of both the countries over the past half decade on the issue, the deadlock has yet to be broken.
Suspicion of China runs deep among Indian analysts. ‘China’s demonstrated policies of strategic encirclement of India and its use of India’s other arch-enemy Pakistan as a proxy for her designs…is proof enough that you can never trust Beijing’s intentions,’ says former Maj. Gen. Sheru Thapliyal, who commanded a frontline division responsible for handling China. ‘Until a visible change is demonstrated by China, there’s no excuse for any Indian Government to ignore or soft-pedal the imperatives of strong defensive preparations along the India-Tibet Border’.
But such preparations haven’t gone unnoticed by China. When news of last May’s plans went public, China reacted strongly, with the semi-official Global Times editorializing: ‘India's current course can only lead to a rivalry between the two countries. India needs to consider whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China…Any aggressive moves will certainly not aid the development of good relations with China. India should examine its attitude and preconceptions; it will need to adjust if it hopes to cooperate with China and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.’
This year’s annual report by the Indian Defence Ministry stated: ‘India remains conscious and alert about the implications of China’s military modernisation. Rapid infrastructure development in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Province has considerably upgraded China's military force projection capability and strategic operational flexibility…Necessary steps have been initiated for the upgrading of our infrastructure and force structuring along the northern borders.’
This kind of urgency, lacking for far too long in New Delhi, is a refreshing indication that Indian policymakers are taking the need to prepare for potential conflict with China seriously. China cannot—and should never be—taken lightly. And India should always be mindful of the fact that military preparedness and trying to improve diplomatic relations are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Nitin Gokhale is Defence & Strategic Affairs Editor with Indian broadcaster, NDTV 24×7
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UBENDRA
China will never attack India..they are just to afraid. China is only good on paper.
Soumya
@quang you are talking very immaturely. For the centuries our beloved martyrs fought against british to libarate country. We bear the bloods of them in vein. China will never attack india. Coz there is a very littld gap between indian & chinise army. And if attacked they will be taught an important lesson along side pakistan.
Jayant
Quang- First you people look your in house problems and then think to conquer about INDIA. Just see in history and don’t forget. Many like you had come saying they’re the lord and rulers of INDIA. But at last can’t able to batter INDIA and had left our soil. Even don’t think in your dream also. Because Indian soil is blessed by lord Tridev (Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva) i.e. – Creator, Custodian & Destroyer No one is born in this universe (Brahmand) to destroy India. Mind it..
kev
china wil have no answer to upgraded Su 30MKI with brahmos missile….no country in the world has a defence mechanism to stop it
Subodh Kumar
Hey Quang,
Put your own house in order first, then think about taming India. And, for a good period of time in the history, you’ve been miserable in comparison to India which in most of the ages flourished as the centre of world trade and commerce.
For you it will be better to take care of the Pakistani terrorists rising their head in northern China, than to bother about India.
Quang
China is the world’s strongest superpower, evn gr8r thdn india’s godfather amerika. British pet india shd accept china as their new lord and accept all our demands else it will be a doomsday for india!
Pinki
Try to play with India…you will be taught a good lesson…it will be trying to play with FIRE.
Aishken
You recived so many good things from India, if you dont have anything to give back useful…just keep silent. Weapons of mass destruction are not deciding the winning situation. it is the truth,…so think of this firt. Your country is so big with massive population,,,defintely you have enough resources. So dont fight fot it. Let our planet earth be colorfull with all kinds of cultures, moral values etc….
If you dont care anything all those and still want fight with india….we ready for anything….
Amlan
If u have power u should be responsible,if u dont then be ready for very hard time.
Rahul
Well people please fight the corruption around you before fighting other nations.
Anupam
Yes.!………… But how ? Do u guys still think tht Anna’s policy of AHINSA will help
chandrakant
china cant even defeat vietnam in 1979 war. how china dare to bother india that is way more power than vietnam
thearms1000
A nation filled with corruption and terrorist I think will be quite easy to defeat.