New Delhi | October 16, 2009
Article from: The Australian
TENSIONS are rising on the 3500km border between China and India as New Delhi's military chiefs prepare for a summit on reported Chinese incursions and the Asian powers face off in a range of spheres.
Since July, India has boosted troop numbers by up to 60,000 and upgraded infrastructure, including new airports, in the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh in response to Chinese facilities and garrisons. The move has raised fears of a return to border skirmishes between the two countries - which date back to the Sino-Indian border war in October-November 1962.
The two areas of dispute are Arunachal Pradesh, in the far east of India, and Aksai Chin, near India's northwest corner.
The rising border heat comes as Canberra walked a fine diplomatic line - asking to rejoin annual military exercises between India and the US in Malabar while hosting Chinese military chief General Chen Bingde, who arrived yesterday for talks.
India raised the stakes in the neighbourhood dispute yesterday, calling on China to stop working on infrastructure projects on the Pakistani side of the disputed region of Kashmir.
The Pakistan government has awarded Chinese companies the contracts for several infrastructure projects there, including a river diversion, a hydroelectric power scheme and a major upgrade of the Karakoram Highway, which India considers part of its northern territory.
"We hope Beijing will take a long-term view of India-China relations and cease such activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan," said Ministry of External Afairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash.
India has cracked down on Chinese work visas in recent weeks - a move linked to apparent incursions on both sides of the border in Arunachal Pradesh.
China and India tend to see themselves as competitors militarily and economically, for development in the Asian region, such as in Burma.
In August, China blocked a loan from Asian Development Bank to India for the development of Arunachal Pradesh, which was $2.9 million of a $60billion ADB loan to India.
Next Tuesday's Indian generals conference will be attended by the three services chiefs along with all the commanders of the army, navy and the air force. They are expected to discuss the incursions by Chinese troops and the steps taken to increase military preparedness in the region during the two-day meeting.
China has also expressed its displeasure at the Indian government's decision to approve a visit to Tawang in Arunachal next month by the Dalai Lama.
China's state-owned Global Times newspaper said India's infrastructure push was "based on a false anticipation that China will cave in".
"India is frustrated that China's rise has captured much of the world's attention," the paper said. "Proud of its 'advanced political system', India feels superior to China.
"However, it faces a disappointing domestic situation which is unstable compared with China's. India likes to brag about its sustainable development, but worries that it is being left behind by China."
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