India takes serious cognisance of tension on Chinese border, high-level ta

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, held high-level talks with Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Defence Staff (India) and the three Defence Chiefs against the background of the standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan river valley region. Before this, the three Defence Chiefs also held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Details of the meeting have not been revealed. As per received information, it was decided in the meeting that India will not compromise on its sovereignty, talks will continue with China for peace on the border, and the work on roads in the border areas will not be stopped under any circumstances.

Indian and Chinese soldiers are involved in a standoff at one place in the Pangong lake region and the Galwan river valley in Ladakh. Among these, tension at the Galwan Finger Point area is very high. Chinese soldiers have infiltrated in this region and set up tents. They are also digging up trenches in the area. All the necessary equipment for the purpose has been brought there. There are reports that China has deployed helicopter drones in this area for surveillance.

Indian soldiers are standing there to foil this infiltration attempt by the Chinese soldiers. Indian soldiers have set up their tents right in front of the tents of the Chinese soldiers in the Galwan river region. Deployment of the Indian soldiers has been increased after China increased its soldier deployment in the area. As per some reports, China has made the additional deployment of 5,000 soldiers in the Galwan sector and some other reports claim that the deployment is of 10,000 soldiers.

Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese government, claimed that the entire Galwan valley region is Chinese territory. The daily accused that India is intentionally creating a dispute and building defence related facilities in the area. The mouthpiece also claimed that due to this, China is left with no other option but to retaliate. The Global Times also accused that the developments in the Galwan valley sector are part of a pre-planned Indian conspiracy and the Indian soldiers started infiltration from the beginning of May.

The Global Times article even reminds of the 1962 war. Both the countries were a match for one another in 1962. But now, Chinese GDP is 5 times that of India. Global Times commented that the Indian government, military, intellectuals and media would increase their understanding of China. With this, China seems to be issuing a veiled threat of war to India. Even in the past, Global Times had accused the Indian Army of infiltration.

If any tension is created between India and China, the Global Times and the other Chinese mouthpieces remind India of the 1962 war. Even during the standoff at Doklam in 2017, the Chinese leaders were repeatedly threatening that China will hand out a more embarrassing defeat to India than the 1962 war. But that did not have any effect on the morale of the Indian military. Finally, China had to back down in front of the Indian resolve. A similar situation is developing in the Galwan valley sector, and the Indian Army is giving a fitting reply to China.

Militaries of both the countries held six rounds of discussions to defuse the tension on the border. But the talks have not been fruitful. China has put a condition that India should stop all the infrastructure development work in the border region and maintain a status quo. But India has rejected the Chinese condition.

Against this background, the activities are gaining momentum. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Defence Chief Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General Manoj Naravane, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhaduria and Naval Chief Admiral Karambir Singh. Rajnath Singh took stock on the situation and

preparedness at the Ladakh border. Only four days ago, Army Chief General Naravane visited Ladakh and inspected the situation in the region. Within a few hours of this meeting, the Indian Prime Minister held a meeting with all the defence chiefs in the presence of National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held talks with the Defence Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The Commando Conference of the Indian military is also scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Indian development of infrastructural facilities along the Ladakh border has not gone down well with China. China is apprehensive that this will enhance the Indian defence capabilities in this region. The expected exodus of foreign companies from China, following the Coronavirus crisis and the possibility that these companies will choose India as their destination, has also considered being one of the main reasons for Chinese restlessness. As per analysts, this is why China is pressurising India, by increasing the tension at the border. Observers have said that China is pressurising India also because it does not want India to take a stand against China on the Hong Kong issue. Some of the Indian analysts have claimed that China is pressurising India out of a fear that India will take over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.