Eye on the Chinese

India has taken cognisance of an increase in the intensity of China’s military exercises and deployment of troops in the eastern sector and claims to be well-prepared to respond to any contingency. These are the key takeaways from the media briefing by the Eastern Army Commander in Arunachal Pradesh. The message to the neighbour is loud and clear: We are keeping an eagle eye on your activities and will give a befitting reply to any misadventure. With a tough winter setting in along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian troops need to maintain the highest level of readiness. The recent attempts by Chinese soldiers to make incursions in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector and Uttarakhand’s Barahoti sector leave no room for doubt yet again about who is the aggressor, notwithstanding Beijing’s unconvincing protestations to the contrary.

China’s intransigence was plainly visible during the recent round of military talks, which failed to end the stalemate over the friction points in eastern Ladakh. While keeping all channels of communication open for military and diplomatic deliberations, India has gone ahead with making its presence felt on the ground. The Army has enhanced the deployment of air assets, including unmanned aircraft, near the border with China. The stepping up of day-and-night surveillance over the LAC is expected to give the troops greater confidence to take on the enemy, as and when required.

India’s strategy of expediting infrastructure development in border areas can prevent China from gaining a tactical edge. Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually conducted the final breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel, whose construction is likely to be completed by June 2022, is aimed at ensuring faster movement of troops in Tawang, a strategically located district bordering China. With new villages having come up on the Chinese side, India can’t afford to lag behind in terms of connectivity and visibility. Overall, a cautious approach, guided by the bitter lessons learnt from the 1962 debacle and more recently the Galwan clash of 2020, can enable India to hold its ground against the formidable foe.