Is India downplaying Chinese incursions?

Is India downplaying the recent Chinese incursions in Indian administered Kashmir and violation of its air space or these are just tactics? Chinese military jets recently violated the Indian airspace in Leh, the mountainous region of Indian administered Kashmir (IaK). Besides, the Chinese troops entered 1.5 kms inside the Ladakh region of IaK and painted “CHINA” with red spray on the rocks and boulders. The Chinese troops, according to a senior government official of the region, have threatened the nomads living in the area to quit the area as it ‘belongs’ to China. There were also media reports that Chinese troops exchanged heavy gunfire with Indian soldiers in Indian state of Sikkim, which China claims is its territory. The Chinese incursions into Indian border have taken place after a recent write-up on a quasi-official Chinese website, boasted that “Indian federation” was ripe for dismemberment if Beijing makes a lit bit of effort. The Chinese think tank in the write-up posted in International Institute for Strategic Studies has detailed a roadmap for ‘breaking up’ India. “To split India, China can support military group ULFA Indian state of Assam, back aspirations of Indian nationalities like Tamils and Nagas, encourage Bangladesh to give a push to the independence of Indian state of West Bengal, support militants in Kashmir and  recovering the 90,00 skm km terrirtory in Southern Tibet,” the write up reads. The recent Chinese incursions have taken place when senior Indian army officials are on a visit to the country. Strangely India has downplayed the incursions with external affairs minister, S M Krishna asserting that India-China boundary is ‘most peaceful’ while Ministry of Defence states “these incidents do take place and our side also does such things”. India is sharing large border with China and the two countries fought a deadly war in 1962 in which thousands perished. The India-China relations have always remained strained because of New Delhi’s support to Buddhist spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, whom China accuses of fomenting trouble in Tibet. The cool response to the incursions by the Indian establishment has baffled the Indian defence experts. “The situation is not good on the India-China border and New Delhi should take aggressive stance rather than being in denial mode. It should take up the issue at highest level with Chinese government and seek guarantees from them that such ‘misadventures’ won’t be repeated in future,” said a former retired Indian army officer based in IaK. A defence expert based in Indian capital told a news channel that the situation is same as it was before the 1962 war between India and China. “China used to launch incursions, violate Indian airspace and then used to deny them. They are following the same tactics this time around and this makes us apprehensive that Chinese troops may resort to ‘misadventure’ to shift the attention of its people from economic depression,” he said.  Bharat Verma, editor of Indian Defence Review magazine, apprehends that China will launch an attack on India before 2012. “There are multiple reasons for a desperate Beijing to teach India the final lesson, thereby ensuring Chinese supremacy in Asia in this century. The recession had shut the Chinese exports shop, creating an unprecedented internal social unrest, which in turn, was severely threatening the grip of the Communists over the society,” he wrote in an editorial in the forthcoming issue of the defence journal. “Concerns of Chinese Communists are best addressed by waging a war against pacifist India to achieve multiple strategic objectives. The most attractive option is to attack a soft target like India and forcibly occupy its territory in the northeast,” he said. The political observers in Kashmir are also surprised at the India’s reaction on the incursions. “Instead of taking any hard posture, Indian establishment is in defensive mode. They don’t miss an opportunity to accuse Pakistan of helping militants sneak into Kashmir when an infiltration attempt of the guerillas takes place. But in Ladakh region, the Chinese troops entered 1.5 kms inside the territory and painted “CHINA” on the boulders besides threatening the nomads putting up in the area to quit the area. Despite these ‘evidences’ India is playing down such incursions,” said a political science teacher of University of Kashmir, highest seat of learning in Indian administered Kashmir. However, a senior Indian army official presently posted in Indian administered Kashmir said that India is not downplaying these incursions. “We have taken adequate measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. The strength of men and material along the border with China has been strengthened besides diplomatically the Chinese government has been approached to prevent such incursions, which have the potential to lead to outbreak of hostilities between the two countries,” he added. (The author is a journalist based in Indian administered Kashmir and can be reached at: fayazwani123@gmail.com) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it