BEIJING: Chinese and Indian soldiers are locked in aface-off at the Sikkim section of the China-India border after Indian troops crossed theboundary and entered Chinese territory.
Responding to India’s accusation that Chinese soldiers made an incursioninto the Indian side to do construction work, the usually low-profile Chinese authoritiescriticized the Indian side for violating the consensus on border issues and agreementsbetween the two governments, seriously endangering peace along the border areas,said an article published in Global Times here on Thursday.
The Indian government made no objection to the Sikkim section of theChina-India border. Allegations of intrusions along the western section of the China-Indiaborder often emerge, but face-offs in the Sikkim section are rare.
The Nathu La Pass inSikkim was reopened in 2006, because there is no border dispute between China andIndia over this area.
It remains unclear whether this flare-up is the fault of low-levelIndian troops or a tentative strategic move made by the Indian government.
Whateverthe motive, China must stick to its bottom line. It must force the Indian troops toretreat to the Indian side by all means necessary, and China’s road construction mustn’tbe stopped.
India’s national confidence has been greatly boosted with its GDP risingto fifth in the world. The fact that the US and West are willing to woo India tocounterbalance China has particularly added to Indians’ sense of strategic superiority.
Some Indians believe the US and Japan are building a circle to containChina, and India has an advantage over China by choosing whether to join this circle.
Therefore, they can indulge themselves on issues including border disputes, while Chinahas no choice but to make concessions.
As the China-India borderline hasn’t been demarcated completely and thetwo countries have a different understanding about the Line of Actual Control, troopsfrom both sides often stray across in some areas.
However, almost all frictions are fedto the Indian media by the Indian military which they hype time and again.
China avoids making an issue of border disputes, which has indulgedIndia’s unruly provocations. This time the Indian side needs to be taught the rules.
India cannot afford a showdown with China on border issues. It lags farbehind China in terms of national strength and the so-called strategic support for it fromthe US is superficial.
China has no desire to confront India. Maintaining friendly ties withNew Delhi is Beijing’s basic policy.But this must be based on mutual respect. It’s not time for India todisplay arrogance toward China.
India’s GDP is only one-quarter of China’s and its annualdefense budget is just one-third.
Having a friendly relationship and cautiously handlingborder issues with China is its best choice.