CAN’T SHAKE US, CHINA TAUNTS INDIA

“Shaking a mountain is easy, not the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian was quoted by media reports as saying on Monday while warning India over the Doklam stand-off, adding that China will safeguard its security interests at “any cost” as its sovereignty was “indomitable”.

The comments were made amid a standoff with India in Bhutanese territory and ahead of this week’s National Security Advisers’ (NSA) talks to resolve the standoff.

“Shaking a mountain is easy, not the Chinese People’s Liberation Army,” Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian was quoted by media reports as saying on Monday.

The comments further show that China is stepping up its psychological offensive to unnerve India and pressure the Indian Army into withdrawing from the Bhutanese territory that China covets.

“China will safeguard its security interests at any cost. India should not leave things to luck and not harbour any unrealistic illusions,” he said ahead of the 90th anniversary of the PLA.

Commenting on the over a month-long military standoff between the troops of the two countries in the Doklam area of Bhutan, Wu urged India to “correct its mistake”.

His comments came as NSA Ajit Doval is set to travel to Beijing this week to attend the Brics meeting scheduled to be held from July 27-28 during which he is expected to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.