In response to recent reports that two Chinese helicopters intruded into Indian territory in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief Deepak Kapoor said he did get reports of Chinese intrusion but “this is not a new thing.”
“I want to tell you that the press sometimes hypes this but the numbers of intrusions which have taken place this year are on the same level as last year,” Kapoor said.
Soon after that the Indian media reported that Chinese soldiers had crossed the border in Ladakh last week and painted some rocks red.
Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said, “Let me go on record to say that border with China has been one of the most peaceful boundaries that we have had as compared to other boundary lines with other countries.”
Former Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major and Navy Chief Sureesh Mehta have repeatedly warned that China is a danger to India, and the hawks in the Indian security establishment fear that the Chinese had a strategic plan of encircling India.
Around the time India and China were holding the 13th round of their border talks in August, an article had appeared in China titled “If China takes a little action, the so-called Great Indian Federation can be broken up”.
The article primarily focussed on how China can split India and break it up into 20-30 states like the European Union.
Given this context, many seem to think Indian officials and ministers could be playing down any potential threat from China.
So what do you think is India’s policy towards China? What does India seek to achieve by playing down these intrusions?
Brahma Chellaney, former adviser to India’s National Security Advisory Board, said, “The atmosphere has deteriorated in the recent months, plus there’s been escalation of tensions along the Himalayan border.”
What should be India’s stand on these constant intrusions in the name of a differently perceived Line of Actual Control?
In a Wall Street Journal report, India’s former national security advisor Brajesh Mishra said, “The Chinese must know that if they create something on border there would be an instant reaction far beyond what happened in 1962.”
Many analysts on the other hand believe that India is uncertain about how to handle these intrusions and deal with Beijing’s ‘Rising China’ strategy.
“India is clueless on how to deal with China’s growing belligerence, so it attempts to play down an admitted pattern of growing Chinese incursions.” said Chellaney.
Should India fall back on the U.S. to checkmate any future designs of China to break up India? Or should India focus on trying to find a solution to the long standing border dispute with China so that it can concentrate on consolidating its strategic interests in the region and beyond?
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we indians never believe chinese thereafter 1962. Indians now have no trust in other countries too. But we can deal with china with our democracy and it will ruin china with people to people contact and by doing so, chinese will understand Budha will and can give more advices to chinese than they gave in 1962 to us. Chinese mistake of 1962 will dare them to attack inda again. War is not Olypics and it is waste of time and lives with oss of enormous wealth and will ruin both countries which Europeans would laugh and win over the so called Asian Giants like India and China. See the fate of Japan - they (Europeans) don’t want Japan and Asia in thrones like Americans. The leaders of China must know and understand its big neighbours and settle the disputes much earlier and avoid writings against India in their dailies which Indians read and foes of China and India will utilise for their own ulterior goals. So take steps to mould the relationship.
- Posted by SIVA SANKARANIt is not just trust issues between these giant neighbors. Here is a thoughtful analysis:
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/s ep/18/slide-show-1-truth-behind-chinas-b order-misadventure.htm
To ponder: “Speak softly and carry a big stick” : http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/32905 0.html
- Posted by Nothing wrong in being preparedThe news regardiing the Chinese activity along the line of Control in Sikkim and J&K states is disturbing. The Sino Indian boarder has been peaceful during the last 4 decades. The decision of the Government to allow Dalai Lama to viisit Arunachal seems to be a tactical error of judgment. China is oversensitive aboout the proposed visit of the Tibetal Spiritual Leader. We have no justified reason to incur the Chinese wrath for the sake of Dalai Lama. What is our interest in him? The talk of our independent policy in such matters smacks of idealism in preference to our national interest and security.
Every one knows that China is our main adversary. It is far stronger than India as an economic and military power. In that fateful year, 1962, our P.M. declared to evict them from our soil, but failed miserably to do so. In fact “we were caught napping”, without requisite defence preparedness. We hadn’t even good quality small arms. The relative military might between the two countries does not seem to have altered much both in conventional and nuclear capabilities. We cannot afford to repeat the past mistakes. Military and political wisdom dictates us to first concentrate on acquiring adequate strength before challenging provoking or challenging an adversary even for the justified exercise of our sogereign rights.
- Posted by Vadrevu Soma RajuIf Tibet is a free country now, this issue will not be there. I wish TIBET is FREE
- Posted by PDDIllegitimacy of Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is in no way better than that of China.
- Posted by ramI don’t think there is hardly any need of raising this particular question again and again, when we all know the fact, “from deep down inside” that India is not going to take any action against any such activities; irrespective of Country name. From years we have been calmly watching neighbourhood countries regularly conducting all such kind of activties but the only action we take (When media take the responsibilty and highlight all these matters) is to sit for an urgent meeting with US and follow there instruction. Its sad i bet you.
- Posted by Vinay TiwariSee these
1) http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-f inds-out-25k-chinese-entered-india-on-bi z-visas-but-are-in-unskilled-jobs/516740 /
2) http://newsx.com/story/62542
The puppet congressis and politicians of mecca and rome have slipped in countless Chinese into India and China has increased war tones. Will we be able to fight two wars? One with Chinese and another with the smuggled in Chinese and the Communists of India?
- Posted by RohitATTENTION MODERATOR: THE PREVIOUS VERSION WAS SUBMITTED ACCIDENTALLY. PLEASE USE THIS CORRECT VERSION.
Frank, from what I’ve seen, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other South Asians get along quite normally at a people-to-people level. But “friendships” between the South Asian countries on a national level get a little more complicated. It’s a good question that I think Indians on a governmental basis should be asking and should seriously contemplate. All countries have areas needing improvement, but the resilient Indian democracy has a way of rubbing incompatible systems the wrong way. And it is possible that the Indian democracy, economy and media have created at least a few anxieties and jealousies across the borders. Democracies are unlikely to go to war with each other, but unfortunately not all political systems in the South Asian neighborhood have had a lot of success with democracy, if at all. Let’s hope that whatever the differences between the political systems, all countries at least manage to get along. We need peace in the neighborhood.
- Posted by For DemocracyIndians should think about why they do not have much friends in South Asia.
- Posted by Frankif we can’t make patrol roads then lests make fields full of land mines.JOB DONE. China can’t come in. DO it before its too late.
- Posted by Sandeep SInghindia cant do any thing………jab pakistan ko kuchh nahi kiya .to china……..impossible.
- Posted by akahil kumarThe latest incursion by Chinese PLA into Indian territory and Indian Govt. response to these activities shows that India is downplaying chinese border intrusion.
We need to give attention to the statement of Mr.Brijesh Mishra that there woul be instant reaction beyond what happened in 1962.
Central Govt should take stern action otherwise this is going to be heavoc in future.
- Posted by Ankush Mahajan@bulletfish
1.this list looks funny. arent u forgetting to put Premji, KP Singh and a few others in the top indians list?
- Posted by tadasmi2.how many of them really got their highest education courtesy of the indian goverment?
3.laxmi mittal should not be categorised as an indian, we can argue on his residentship and holding companies……….
4.y hav u left out li ka shing(hutchinson) then?
5.doesn’t this list, in combinations with the fact that we have a lower PCI than china, show that we are a much more unregulated and lop sided economy with serious issues with the distribution of wealth?
6. cornelius vanderbilt and john d rockelfeller were the richest men of their times, but america was anything than an economic superpower back then
7. what does education rly have to do with being a miilionaire?
8.wher did you do your mba from?
more updates on chinese moves
- Posted by mail4pathihttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1090911/js p/frontpage/story_11480339.jsp
I do not expect the US and/or Japan to save India if a most undesirable (for both China and India) hostilities breaks out. But it does not serve Japanese, US or western interests to watch the most powerful democracy in southern Asia (whatever its failings or whatever the historical facts of the 1962 war are) to fall to Chinese hawks who advocate India’s breakup. I also do not think China desires Indian soil; however, I am also aware that China’s definition of where Indian soil begins or ends differs from India’s and international definitions. As a side note, China also apparently differs with US and international definitions of international waters as seen in an other international incident in the South China Sea recently: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/world/ asia/10iht-navy.4.20740316.html . However irksome it may be to some Chinese hawks, an alliance between key democratic countries might actually serve to deter misadventures from both the Indian and Chinese sides. (Let me also add that the Indian media can be somewhat sensationalistic at times, not an exclusively Indian trait, and they might want to consider their country over the rupees their newspapers sales and TV advertisements bring in.) Whether a US-India-Japan alliance is wise or not is debatable, of course, but I think that nearly every sane person will agree that smart and wisely chosen words - from newspaper or politician - have the power to kill or heal. The world needs a healthy China, but it also needs a healthy India. One can only hope that saner heads from both rich and wonderful civilizations prevail.
- Posted by For Democracy@ “That might be a very naive fantasy which may cause great damage only to India. I do not believe either Japan or US would come to the rescue of India if it dares to launch a war against China.”
Jack, I dont think India would lunch a war on china even if US came out to support..but take note India is very capable of hitting at china where it hurts most its economy..India will counter chinese military might only if challenged seriously..but India is already challenging chinese economic might which cannot be checked..be it in Africas, Australia, US,west Asia, Middle east and EU..India’s influence is growing at the cost of china’s..
- Posted by AnithaChinese tried their best..but failed terribly -one of them if you remember chinese ships with sub-standard drugs to Africa caught with “Made in India” printed on them. i think this failure on part of frustrated china is showing up as mindless incursion on border..