With no let-up in tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said “unprovoked aggression” on the Himalayan frontiers is a reminder of the changing world and China not abiding with existing agreements. Without naming the eastern neighbour, he also said it was asserting its power in the Indo-Pacific region, too.
Making this point here, Rajnath praised the armed forces and said they have shown exemplary courage and remarkable fortitude and “fought the PLA with utmost bravery and forced them to go back.”
This was in reference to the bloody brawl between the Indian and Chinese troops on June 15 in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian Army personnel, including the commanding officer were killed in the fracas. China, however, has not disclosed the number of its personnel killed in the clash.
This blunt observation came days after Rajnath last week called for exercising self-restraint and avoid actions that may worsen the situation. The Minister made these remarks virtually at a conclave of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) where his Chinese counterpart Weng Fei was also present.
The two leaders had held marathon face to face talks two months ago on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Moscow. The two Ministers had then discussed ways to defuse tension at the LAC.
On Monday while addressing a seminar organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Rajnath said the “unprovoked aggression” on the Himalayan frontiers is a reminder of how the world is changing, how existing agreements are being challenged, how power is being asserted not just in the Himalayas but across the Indo-Pacific.
“Whenever there is a situation at the LAC, the most obvious outcome is a comparison between India and China’s military strength. There can be a serious debate on who owns more military might but when it comes to soft power there is no scope of ambiguity. India is far ahead of China when it comes to leading the world with ideas, he said. Due to its location, size, population and economy, India has always been at the strategic forefront of global security, he added.
Stating that India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism, Rajnath said India fought the scourge alone even when there was no one to support but later, the world understood that India was right about “Pakistan being the fountainhead of terrorism”.
The Minister said “there comes a point in a nation’s history, every now and then, when it needs to stand up for itself, tell that India can fight anyone, that it’s capable of taking any challenge, just to survive.”
In Kolkata, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat assured that the armed forces are fully prepared for any eventuality that they may face.
“We are in a standoff situation in Ladakh and based on that there is some development activity which has been ongoing in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Every nation will continue to prepare for ensuring its security based on their strategic interest,” he said.
Rawat also confirmed that “high levels of preparation” are underway on land, sea and air as “China attempts to change the status quo on the LAC along the northern border.”
Talking of technology, Rawat said time has come now to look at the future of war fighting imbibing technology into our systems. Asked about unabated ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), Rawat cautioned that the other side (Pakistan) should be “getting more concerned.” “We are fully prepared,” he added.
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 | PNS | New Delhi
