China warns India not to harbour illusions in border stand-off


Beijing, Jul 24 (Reuters): China's defence ministry on Monday warned India not to harbour any illusions about the Chinese military's ability to defend its territory, amid a festering border dispute.

The stand-off on a plateau next to the mountainous Indian state of Sikkim, which borders China, has ratcheted up tension between the neighbours, who share a 3,500-km (2,175-mile) frontier, large parts of which are disputed.

"Shaking a mountain is easy but shaking the People's Liberation Army is hard," ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a briefing, adding that its ability to defend China's territory and sovereignty had "constantly strengthened".

Early in June, according to the Chinese interpretation of events, Indian guards crossed into China's Donglang region and obstructed work on a road on the plateau.

The two sides' troops then confronted each other close to a valley controlled by China that separates India from its close ally, Bhutan, and gives China access to the so-called Chicken's Neck, a thin strip of land connecting India and its remote northeastern regions.

India has said it warned China that construction of the road near their common border would have serious security implications.

The withdrawal of Indian border guards was a precondition for resolving the situation, Wu reiterated.

"India should not leave things to luck and not harbour any unrealistic illusions," Wu said, adding that the military had taken emergency measures in the region and would continue to increase focused deployments and drills.

"We strongly urge India to take practical steps to correct its mistake, cease provocations, and meet China halfway in jointly safeguarding the border region's peace and tranquillity," he said.

Indian officials say about 300 soldiers from either side are facing each other about 150 metres (yards) apart on the plateau.

They have told Reuters that both sides' diplomats have quietly engaged to try to ensure the stand-off does not escalate, and that India's ambassador to Beijing is leading the effort to find a way for both sides to back down from confrontation without losing face.

Chinese state media have warned India of a fate worse than the defeat it suffered in their brief border war in 1962.

This month, state media said China's military had carried out live fire drills close to the disputed area.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    China is applying same tactics as it is applying to its citizens "Threat and fear" and thinks rest of the world also succumbs to this same practice. So far China was only talking in filmy style dialogues, threats and ultimatums here and there, no action just like our 56" gas filled chested PM. It's all Faking and empty threats.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mona, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Hum 'Eent Ka Jawab Patthar Se Denge,
    56 inches chest wala admi hamara paas hai
    thumara paas kya hai ?

    DisAgree [7] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • MILAN, LUCERNE

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    GO AND FIGHT IN BORDER... IF NOT THEN STOP PROVOKING CHINESE..

    THEY CAN MAKE WEAPONS IN A MINUTE TIME.. AND THEIR KUNFU STYLE ATTACKING WE CANNOT COMPETE WITH THEM..

    PEACE IS BETTER THAN WAR..

    WAR ONLY DESTROYS EYERTHING..

    EVEN APPLE DEVICES ARE MADE IN CHINA.. CAN U PEOPLE SACRCIFICE IPHONE...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Santan,
    You are right.
    If any imbalance in our relations with our neighboring countries and escalated war like temperaments may inflict untold economic and other adverse situation mostly with poor and low income people. Modi right from beginning tried to follow the path of verbal aggression against opposition political parties or with our two neighbors. Modi should stand firm and not by trying to please them and play different games to annoy them. Such mantra will not work. Why China does not treat other small neighbors in the same way as they play with India.
    Finally, it is the responsibility of the leader of the country and there multitudes who support his ideology and way of leading the Nation.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABDUL RAFIQ, Uchila / Udupi

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    First time in 70 years.......................

    DisAgree [11] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Hum 'Eent Ka Jawab Patthar Se Denge' ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • prem, moodbidri

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    No worries at all, we have "No-1 PM in the world" (certified by UNESCO, as per Bhakths!)

    DisAgree [11] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Looks like China is more scared than us.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    China warned India to remember 1962
    India warned Pakistan to remember 1971
    On Friday, Comptroller and Auditor General of India tabled in Parliament that the Indian defence ammunition will not last more than 10 days, if the war breaks up. Whom to believe ? Hope things are settled amicably.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse


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