India rejects China’s ‘defined’ LAC of 1959
NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday categorically rejected China’s “socalled unilaterally defined” Line of Actual Control (LAC) of 1959, and asked the neighbouring country to refrain from advancing an “untenable” interpretation of the de-facto border.
The Indian government also reminded China that its insistence there is only “one LAC” is contrary to the solemn commitments made by Beijing in previous bilateral agreements, and expected it will “sincerely” abide by them in their entirety. The assertion by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came in response to comments by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson that China continues to follow its 1959 stand on the perception of the LAC.
“India has never accepted the socalled unilaterally defined 1959 Line of Actual Control. This position has been consistent and well known, including to the Chinese side,” MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in response to a question by the media on China insisting that it takes the 1959 line on perception of the LAC. The comments by Srivastava also came on a day when China needled India and questioned the status of Ladakh as UT of India. “China doesn’t recognise the so-called ‘Ladakh Union Territory’ illegally set up by India. We are opposed to conducting infrastructure development for military purposes in disputed border areas,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
NEW DELHI: The present security scenario along India’s northern frontier is at an “uneasy, no war, no peace” status, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Tuesday, referring to the festering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
Addressing a conference, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria also said the Indian Air Force has responded to the situation with rapidity and is fully resolved to counter any “misadventure” in the region.
“The present security scenario along our northern frontiers is at an uneasy no war no peace status. Our defence forces are prepared for any eventuality as you are aware,” the Chief of Air Staff said.
The IAF is looking at inducting around 450 aircraft and helicopters in the next two decades, besides upgrading at least 200-300 planes during this period, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said.
He also said the recent induction of Rafale fighter jets along with previous acquisitions of C-17 Globemaster aircraft as well as Chinook and Apache helicopters have provided the IAF with substantial tactical and strategic capability enhancement.
“Air power will be a crucial enabler in our victory in any future conflict. It is therefore imperative that IAF obtains and maintains technological edge over our adversaries,” he said at the conference on energising the Indian aerospace industry.
The IAF Chief said the raising of two squadrons of light combat aircraft Tejas and integration of some indigenous weapons on the Su-30 MKI combat jets in a very reduced time frame have been the “most promising” development, reflecting the country’s capabilities to develop indigenous military hardware.
The IAF has already deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in the air bases in eastern Ladakh and elsewhere along the Line of Actual Control.