Who Dares To Question The Chinese ?
At frequent intervals, the Chinese Army has been noticed penetrating, at least 1.5 kms – 7km, inside the Indian Territory including areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh(J&K).
Secret note to the Minister Of External Affairs indicates , People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has intruded as many as 50 times , so far, from July till September, this year, into Indian Territory.
On Sep9’11, Chinese PLA vehicles were seen erecting some antennas 4.5 km deep inside the Indian territory of Tunjun La area .
Chinese signs and drink cans, were noticed on Sep10’11, 4 km deep inside Indian territory,in the Demchok area of the boundary.
On August 15’11, 44Chinese PLA soldiers were noticed setting up tents and shelters 3kms, inside the Indian territory in the Asaphila area of Arunachal Pradesh.
On August 23rd’11, 2 Chinese choppers landed in Barahoti plains in Uttarakhand. Chinese soldiers got down and destroyed about 16-17 Indian positions and defenses. They drew an inscription in Mandarin and inscribed a star on the rock.
On August 25’11, some PLA personnel were seen on horseback carrying weapons moving through Barahoti.
Chinese intruded in Ladakh on August 25 ‘ 2011 – Two Chinese helicopters entered Indian territory on the morning of August 25 in the Chumar area of Nyoma, destroyed 17 unused Indian bunkers and painted rocks with the red star insignia of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Indian bunkers were dismantled and Chinese cigarette packets were thrown around to mark Chinese presence.
The Indian government and the armed or the air forces made no specific comments on the matter of Chinese incursions into Indian territory in Ladakh. The locals are upset with the government which seems helpless on such incidents.
In Uttarakhand, shepherds have many a times noticed strangers in the area who neither understand their language nor make their intentions clear. China has built new roads across the border that made such intrusions easier. The intruders have been crossing the line of control in newer places both in uniforms and in civilian dresses.
The hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with China. The McMahon Line, an imaginary border now known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), separates the Sino-Indian border along Arunachal Pradesh.The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has from time to time been warning the Centre about the Chinese incursions.Indian intelligence officials in 2007 reported Chinese-built mule tracks near the Kayela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district, bordering China’s Tibet region.
The Indo-China border dispute
The border dispute with China was inherited by India from the British colonial rulers, who hosted a 1914 conference with the Tibetan and Chinese governments that set the border in what is now Arunachal Pradesh. China never valued the 1914 boundary known as the McMahon Line.
China claims 90,000 sq. km. — nearly all of Arunachal Pradesh from India while the Indian Government accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq. km of Jammu and Kashmir.
Incidents in the Past
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The road construction work in the Demchok area was stopped by Chinese Army in 2009, on gun point.
- In October 2010, The work on the development project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), aiming at generating employment for locals in the Demchok area was also stopped after Chinese army threatened the workers.
Interestingly, India and China have signed two agreements – the Peace and Tranquillity Agreement in 1993 and the Confidence- Building Measures Agreement in 1996.
While these incidents are clearly alarming and question the intentions of Chinese army, who do we seek answers from, as concerned Indians ? Hopefully, not the Chinese Government !
Well I knew about the Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh intrusion but Uttarkhand was a shock. This is a serious threat and requires attention as soon as possible. I personally feel, the Govt of India is overdoing the Pakistan threat and completely neglecting the China issue which I think is even more dabgerous. I doubt the country is aware of the fact.
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