Chinese threats must be taken seriously

China’s belligerence in the wake of the standoff between the Chinese and Indian troops in Doklam on the ChinaBhutan-India tri-junction has tended to go too far. Its latest missive, while rejecting India’s suggestion for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to end the standoff wondering what New Delhi would do if it (Chinese troops) “enter” Kalapani region in Uttarakhand or Kashmir is extremely high-handed. For 50 days that the standoff has been on after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the area, the Chinese government has been constantly raising its pitch in taking on India. Some of its statements have been mocking at India, making it seem that we are at their mercy. India, in turn, has been silently swallowing its pride and not giving it back to the Chinese while it sticks to its position on the ground. “Even if there is only one Indian soldier, even for a day it is still a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang Wenli, Deputy Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said while talking to a delegation of Indian journalists earlier this week.

She then made the unsavoury remark: “The Indian side has also many tri-junctions. What if we use the same excuse and enter the Kalapani region between China, India and Nepal or even into the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan.” We cannot forget that in 1962 India had been caught napping when the Chinese attacked us. We kept assuring ourselves that China would never go to the extent of attacking India. This time around, the Chinese have been brazen and overly menacing. It is time India starts preparing for the eventuality of Chinese aggression. The governments of the US, Russia and the main European countries need to be apprised of our position on the Doklam issue without any sabre-rattling. Our military preparedness needs to be stepped up with induction of more sophisticated weaponry and defence agreements need to be stitched up wherever feasible and necessary. The Chinese seem unwilling to engage in any serious discussion on defusing the issue. In the circumstances, we need to prepare for any eventuality.