India strengthens borders with friendly China

(TibetanReview.net, Mar31, 2010)

India said Mar 30 that it had initiated necessary steps to upgrade military infrastructure on its side of the northern borders in view of the rapid Chinese development and upgrade of facilities in occupied Tibet and East Turkestan. The Chinese military has upgraded its “force projection capability” along the northern borders, India’s Defence Ministry was quoted as saying in its annual report 2009-10.

The report was quoted as saying: “India also remains conscious and alert about the implications of China’s military modernisation. Rapid infrastructure development in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang province has considerably upgraded China’s military force projection capability and strategic operational flexibility.”

Regarding India’s efforts on its side of the border, the Hindu newspaper Mar 30 quoted the report as saying: “While efforts to build 73 roads near Sino-Indian border have been taken up with vigour, Indian Air Force upgraded advanced landing grounds, including at Daulat Beg Oldie, to facilitate landing of AN-32 transport aircraft while the Army is raising two Mountain Divisions in the north-east and plans to acquire ultra-light howitzers that can be dropped via helicopters at higher altitudes.”

The report was, however, said to be optimistic about Sino-India relations. It was cited as saying that based on strategic and cooperative partnership, relations with China had progressed well during the last year. There was convergence of views and actions on various issues in international fora and a regular mechanism for exchanges in military sphere has been established, it was cited as saying.

In another development, the Supreme Court of India on Mar 28 finally cleared the Army’s long-pending proposal to construct a strategic road near the trijunction of Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim. Among other things, the order mandates that 5percwent of the estimated project cost should be paid to the Sikkim government for undertaking compensatory afforestation.

The Indian Army is to construct two roads in the sensitive international border area in Sikkim, facilitating a strategic access route virtually overlooking occupied Tibet, a demand which had been pending clearance from the SC since 2005.]

The new road, to be built between Flag Hill and Dokala, passes through Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. The Army had submitted to the court, ‘‘the road is required for operational purposes and to meet strategic requirement of the nation’’.