India - China: No Let Up in Chinese Aggressive Designs
In a veiled attack on China over the standoff in Eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday said India is prepared to defend the territorial integrity at all costs. “We have long witnessed unfortunate attempts to employ force to change the status quo along our unresolved borders. India is vigilant and prepared to counter and defeat any misadventure to defend our people and the territorial integrity at all costs,” said Singh during the Aero India show in Bengaluru.
Hailing India’s effort in domestic manufacturing of defence equipment, Singh said, “We have taken steps to strengthen our security apparatus. Domestic manufacturing of bigger and complex defence platforms has now become the focus of our policy under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (Self-reliant India). We plan to spend 130 Billion Dollar on military modernization in next 7-8 years.”
China’s aggressive designs continue
Chinese aggressive acts meanwhile, continue unabated. Increasing incidents of Chinese aircraft violating Taiwanese airspace have been reported. China has also threatened Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. The US has moved the USS Theodore Roosevelt- led carrier group into the SCS to caution China. And on 22 January, passed a bill giving powers to its Coast Guard to use weapons when foreign ships enter its claimed waters and refuse to adhere to commands to withdraw. This will enhance tensions, writes Harsha Kakar (retired Major-General).
With India, the ninth round of military talks concluded with no progress even as reports mention Chinese attempts to ingress in Naku La, Sikkim being thwarted.
China denies any aggressive designs. On Indian claims of the Naku La clash, the Chinese spokesperson, Zhao Lijian stated, “I don’t have any information to offer,” adding “We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction with us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the border…..”
The Naku La clash, writes Kakar “displayed that the Chinese would relentlessly pursue their actions of salami slicing, seeking areas where they could venture in. The construction of border villages by China conveys it is seeking to secure its current LAC. It also sends a message that their approach to any border resolution would only involve Indian side of the LAC. Hence, tensions along the LAC will remain for a prolonged duration, for which India must remain prepared.”
However, “for China, Indian domination of the Kailash Ridge prevents it from taking any unilateral action. They are aware that retaliation from these locations would impinge on their plans and expose their bases to Indian counter strikes. Currently, China is in a stalemate, unable to either advance without large casualties, or withdraw, as it would lead to loss of face.”
China meanwhile has lost out on the Covid vaccine diplomacy. It had assumed that South Asian nations would rush for its vaccines, but its rejection has displayed that Indian soft power still holds sway. A dejected Global Times commenced spreading disinformation on Indian vaccines. It even accused India of being responsible for the failure of its vaccine trials in Bangladesh. “However, to no avail. Even nations deemed close to China have desired Indian vaccines.”
Because this is the centenary of the Chinese communist party, Kakar speculates it “would be a year of their aggressive designs. India has shown the world how the Chinese can be held at bay. It is time for major powers to join hands, follow suit and push China on the defensive.”
