Chinese incursions: India needs to resolve border issue soon

New Delhi: In yet another case of cross-border incursion, Chinese troops infiltrated into the Indian territory in Ladakh and broke a camera set up by the Indian Army at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These cameras were of high resolution and had been put up by the Indian soldiers to keep an eye on Chinese soldiers. The Chinese troops also demolished the temporary structures built by the Indian Army and threatened the Indians living in area to evacuate the place immediately.

The incident took place on June 17 and it is the second such incident in the last three months. The incursion took place in the same area where the Chinese had earlier transgressed in April and May. Then the Chinese troops has put up their tents almost 19 km inside the Indian border and also hung banners saying the area belonged to China. The face off lasted for over 21 days and Chinese troops went back only after India agreed to dismantle its bunkers from the area.

After the June 17 incident, a flag meeting was held between India and China on July 3. Indian Army officers raised the incursions by China and also showed the broken camera as evidence. The government also said that such matters will be through the dialouge.

The Chinese troops crossed over to the Indian side on June 17, just a few days before Defence Minister AK Antony visited China. So the government must have been aware of the incident. A Chinese PLA General, too, had warned India that it was occupying 90,000 sq km of area which he claimed belonged to China.

Such incidents and statements reveal the real intention of the Chinese Army.

Earlier on May 19 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had come on a three-day tour of India while External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had visited China on May 10. During the two visits both sides spoke about resolving all issue amicably. But the latest incidents reveal the real face of China.

The Sino-India war of 1962 after Panchsheel had shown that China cannot be trusted and the latest incidents show that not much has changed.

There are several issues like the flow of Brahmaputra River, helping Pakistan and Sri Lanka build Gwadar and Hambantota seaports respectively which show that China is trying to extend its influence in India's neighbourhood.

But the regular incursions by China show that a mutually agreeable resolution to the border issue must be found out quickly.