Author: Indrani Bagchi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 9, 2009
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chinese-incursions-into-Indian-territory-rose-sharply-in-2008/articleshow/4632640.cms
Chinese incursions into Indian territory peaked
in 2008, with 270 "violations" being recorded in the western, middle
and eastern sectors. In 2009, they appear to have let up a little on the aggression
front, with a little over 60 violations occurring thus far. Chinese violations
made headlines last year, signalling a belligerence that made India jittery.
With the first batch of advanced Sukhoi-30MKI
fighter jets getting ready to be deployed in Tezpur and Chabua, Assam, India
is slowly responding to the uncertainties of Chinese intentions, by enhancing
its state of preparedness in the area. According to the former air force chief,
Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, India will deploy a full squadron of these
fighter jets in the eastern sector.
Recent figures point to a sharp spike in border
violations and aggressive patrolling by Chinese all along the undemarcated
border with India since 2007. Aggressive patrolling by Chinese forces, particularly
in the western sector, have resulted in 2,285 instances in 2008, as compared
to 778 instances in 2007. Indian authorities have recorded 413 instances in
2009 so far.
The brunt of aggressive patrolling by the
Chinese has been felt in Demchok, Koyul and Chushul areas in Ladakh. The western
sector, i.e. Ladakh, has borne the maximum number of violations, though it's
been the Chinese activity in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim areas that have
attracted greater attention. India has, in response, set up forward landing
bases in Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh.
Earlier this year, questioned on the repeated
incursions, foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had told journalists at a
function in New Delhi that he did not think these were intended to change
the status quo between India and China. "I do not see the kind of changes
in the pattern that would suggest that either side is determined to change
the status quo or something fundamental has changed for the worse.''
But it is China's apparently declared interest
in southern Tibet and Tawang in the eastern sector that is of greater concern
to India, particularly since they continue to press their claim over all of
Arunachl Pradesh. In 2008, just the area in Kongra La Pass (what's popularly
known as Finger Point) in north Sikkim recorded six violations.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the Asaphila area and
Dichu/Madan Bridge were worst hit, recording violations even this year. But
officials describe the area as by and large "stable". Questioned
about repeated incursions by China, officials say it's a "regular"
occurrence and generally downplay it. But security officials say Chinese troops
became adventurous even during the recent election season in India, indulging
in "aggressive patrolling" in sections of Arunachal Pradesh.
It is in response to these that India has
now taken significant steps to beef up security here. Governor of Arunachal
Pradesh, General JJ Singh, said on Saturday that two more army divisions will
be deployed along the Sino-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh within a few
years.
"It is true that within a few years,
two army divisions comprising 25,000 to 30,000 personnel each will be deployed
along the Arunachal border as part of planned augmentation of our capabilities
to defend the country," the former army chief was quoted as saying.
"Increase of force strength is to meet
future national security challenges," he added. "Enhancement of
quality of weapons, fighting platforms, intelligence gathering along with
increased deployment of personnel and Sukhoi combat jets in nearby Tezpur
base in Assam besides construction of border roads and other infrastructure
are part of the plan to develop capabilities in a phased manner within the
next few years to effectively meet challenges in the eastern theatre,"
the governor said.
