Indian Defence Review

As per an exclusive report in the DNA today, Indian officials claim that Chinese are making repeated intrusions into Indian Territory because of an internal tussle between the Chinese PLA and PLAN, and power struggle going on within the Chinese leadership. Such a claim fools no one though this may actually be the official assessment of our policy makers considering past displays of their intellect. It is an excellent attempt to fool the public in India but holds no water.

Chinese armed forces are wholly in synch with the CCP with a political commissar placed at every unit and formation level. More importantly power structure within China has fully integrated the military, with serving Military Generals as permanent members of the all powerful Politburo of the CCP. So what internal power struggle are we talking about with the new Chinese Government headed by Xi Jinping in complete control? And what is this assessment of tussle between PLA and PLAN? Surely they are not vying who will attack India first. So what is the tussle about? They need no tussle with the military having their complete say to a fully receptive CCP. Don’t compare China with India where the latter not only has no time for the military but creates opportunities to do down the armed forces at every step.

A similar bizarre logic was being put across during the 19 kilometres deep Chinese intrusion in area of Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) during April this year; attributing it to the decision of a ‘local commander’ or perhaps ‘power struggle at the regional PLA level. It should be crystal clear that China is no banana republic as our political hierarchy is endeavoring its best to turn India into and the mango people (read aam aadmi – common man) are no fools. Any local or regional PLA commander making such a move without consent of the Chinese leadership would beyond doubt face the firing squad. Whether this is something beyond the intellect of our pusillanimous leadership or the recognition of it is deliberately being avoided is the question.

Another weird logic being proffered in support of this intrusion being at local level was that it happened just before the visit (actually was a stopover) of Li Keqiang. Well here again, our ‘acme man’ and his brood need to brush up on what the Chinese have done ‘every time’ Indian politicians have visited China or Chinese politicians have visited India. It would be an eye opener, perhaps only exceptions of genuine camaraderie being when our communist leaders from here go honeymooning in Beijing. Chinese strategy both at political and military levels has been based on shock and surprise. The 15 April intrusion was without doubt masterminded by Beijing, perhaps overseen by Li Keqiang himself to see India’s reaction and keep the upper hand which China achieved without much effort..

The Acme Man and coterie were triumphant when the Chinese removed their tents 25 days after intruding 19 kilometres deep. There was much mutual backslapping in this stupendous feet but what exactly was the ground situation – the Chinese stayed put for 25 days, displayed a gargantuan red banner displaying this was their territory (televised around the globe) but more importantly made us ‘dismantle’ the  structure we had at Chumar. This last act by our pussyfooters virtually amounted to acquiescing this bit of territory to China, notwithstanding the fact that Shri Saeed (read Shinde) was singing the ‘no jurisdiction’ lullaby.  It was then commented in these very columns that China will use this dismantling act of ours proof enough to claim Chumar. This is exactly what has happened, as reported in the DNA exclusive.

Reportedly, on 17th June, a Chinese patrol intruded into Indian Territory at Chumar and smashed the high resolution cameras set up by Indians. They also threatened the locals in Hindi to vacate the area claiming this was Chinese territory. The government put a lid on the media as usual to masquerade the ‘massive success’ of both the Defence Minister’s visit to China and talks between the Special Representatives of India and China having their 16th round of boundary talks in Beijing. What has also been hushed up is that on 3rd July an India-China flag meeting was held pursuant to the 17th June incident at Chumar. The proceedings are under wraps but the Chinese reportedly returned parts of the cameras smashed at Chumar. If this be true, then obviously the Chinese side must have said what they conveyed to locals at Chumar – vacate Chumar. Ironically this was happening concurrent to our Acme Man hugging his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei.

The media report also states that Indians had stopped patrolling Chumar (obviously with directions of the political hierarchy) but the Chinese have broken the agreement. So much so, for China’s promise towards the so-called peace and tranquility along border agreement and the border management mechanism.

It is not that Chinese mischief is only limited to Ladakh. Significantly, China also intruded into Indian Territory in Sikkim on 12th June in the ‘five finger’ area. Then there have been reports of Chinese having pitched tents in three locations in Bhutanese Territories. Yet, we fail to read the overall Chinese designs.  According to former ambassador P Stopden (himself native of Ladakh), over the years India has ceded to China over 400 square kilometres of territory in Ladakh alone. The implications are therefore clear – there have been many intrusions in the past that have been hushed up and similar may been the case in the eastern theatre. This apart, our political hierarchy is even acquiescing to Chinese in not hosting the Tricolor in open at Demchhok in Eastern Ladakh and stopping development work in border village Koyul in Leh.

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Though the government’s silence may well be because of recurring emergencies in absolving itself from repeated scams, corruption, misgovernace, ineptness in environmental safety, preparations for disaster management and what have you but the million dollar question is whether the hierarchy is only petrified with China or there is an overall sinister design to hawk India. Incidentally, despite the repeated intrusions in Ladakh and the inadequate response by the ITBP, the ITBP has still not been placed under command the army. Government officials say that deploying the ITBP along the LAC is in accordance with the Kargil Review Committee and Group of Ministers recommendations but both these reports categorically state that while PMF and CAPF may be deployed along the LAC the “are to be placed under army control”. So why has this not happened even now?

China considers the minds of political leaders of the adversaries as the ‘centre of gravity’ that should be targeted constantly. The Chinaman has apparently achieved much more than what he wanted in respect of India. Pakistan may gloat in having infiltrated think tanks in Washington DC through the likes of Ghulam Mohammed Fai but then USA and British interests appear well in synch with that of Pakistan. That is why you see concerted efforts by western scholars to project views contrary to India’s interests. So you have William Dalrymple professing that the problem in Afghanistan is because of India-Pakistan animosity. That is why Brookings is holding seminars where scholars are preaching India should ‘restrict’ its activities in Afghanistan – even shut down its Consulates in Pashtun areas. All this with US and Britain in league to ensure Pakistan expands its terror factories and AfPak – Middle East burn so the Asian Century remains misnomer.

But coming back to the mafia ruling this country, how much are they prepared to hawk India and succumb to external pressures, and destroy India internally to keep their seats safe. We may get clear indications when the Prime Minister visits Pakistan later this year preceded by the Acme Man. Will we see repeat of or more than Sharm-el-Sheikh, withdrawal from Siachen, more concessions to ISI-LeT – perhaps announcement of a Padma award for Shri Saeed. The bigger threat would be during Manmohan Sigh’s visit to Beijing later this year that Wang Yi described as “the cherry on the cake”. Now if Zhou-en-Lai fooled Nehru completely then for Xi Jinping it would be a piece of cake. That is why perhaps the reference to cherry on the cake. As for the Indian public, Claude Arpi writes Nehru lied to Indian Parliament in 1959 so where is the problem now? Perhaps the only reason the mafia has refrained from leasing out whole of India to China is that if China can award death sentence to Liu Zhijun, former railway minister for corruption, here we would run out of electric chairs and hangmen.