LAC tense, war with China can’t be ruled out: CDS Rawat
NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing military talks between India and China at Chushul over the disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Friday claimed that situation at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh remains tense and the possibility of a war with China cannot be ruled out.
Rawat also said that the Chinese army is facing unanticipated consequences for its misadventure into Ladakh because of firm responses by Indian forces. “The situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh remains tense and the People’s Liberation Army is facing unanticipated consequences for its misadventure in Ladakh because of the firm and strong responses by Indian forces,” Gen Rawat informed. “In the overall security calculus: border confrontations, transgressions, unprovoked tactical military actions -- spiralling into a larger conflict, therefore, cannot be discounted,” he added.
He was speaking at the Diamond Jubilee Webinar, 2020 organised by National Defence College in Delhi. Rawat also reiterated that India’s posturing is unambiguous and it “will not accept any shift in Line of Actual Control”. Talking about myriad external security challenges facing the nation, Rawat also referred to “increasing collusion” between Pakistan and China and said it poses an “omnipresent danger” of regional strategic instability and threatens India’s territorial integrity.
NEW DELHI: Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday said the government has not taken any call on allowing Chinese telecom companies to enter into the 5G trials in India but acknowledged that the penetration of the neighbouring country into the existing network is too extensive.
Bhalla, however, also made it clear that the government was making special safeguards to ensure safety and security of the country’s communication network.
“On 5G, the government in any case has not taken any call. Discussions are still on...when it will be allowed and who are the people to be allowed. Point is very valid. The penetration of existing telecom hardware and software is too extensive,” he said at the Diamond Jubilee webinar organised by National Defence College, while replying to a question on participation of Chinese telecom players in India’s 5G trials.
The Home Secretary said unless India gets a substitute, the existing facilities cannot be closed down abruptly. “Unless we have a substitute available, we just can’t switch off and say that this will not be allowed. But the government can definitely make special safeguards and ensure the safety and security of the system of communication of the country. That we are having, we are developing and will be able to deal with that,” he said.
The US has banned Huawei, the world’s leader in telecom equipment and the number two smartphone producer, over concerns of security and Washington has been putting pressure on other countries to restrict the operations of the Chinese telecom firm. India, however, is yet to take a call on whether it intends to place curbs on Huawei or allow the Chinese telecom equipment maker to participate in the upcoming 5G trials.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had earlier said India has its security issues over allowing Huawei to participate in the upcoming 5G trials.
“We will take a firm view on it. There are also security issues...it is not only a matter of technology, as regard their participation in 5G is concerned... Participation of 5G is not conditional upon the trial being started. Whether a particular company is allowed to participate or not, is a complex question, including security issues,” he had said.
Bhalla said unless India gets a substitute, the existing facilities cannot be closed down abruptly