Indian Annual Defence Report : Chinese Criticism

25 Jun, 2001    ·   508

Wg Cdr NK Pant dismisses the Chnes criticism as habitual bluffing
Wg.Cdr. NK Pant (Retd.)
The Ministry of Defence’s annual report for 2000-2001, a mundane yearly exercise of self praise would not have come to prominence, had it not attracted the flak from Beijing . Its opening  chapter usually deals with the national security environment which is the  MoD’s independent assessment of the international security scenario affecting India . Consecutively for many preceding years, the appraisal has been critical of Chinese military build up and especially its active assistance to Pakistan in developing India specific nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. By sheer coincidence, this official assessment happens to be in conformity with views of noted defence experts, strategists and intelligence community all over the world.

 

 

The latest report while stating that Beijing was working towards the goal of achieving super power status in the new millenium, simply reiterates the earlier stand on China which is in illegal possession of nearly 38,000 kilometres of Indian territory in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The People’s Rebublic’s rapid modernisation of its armed forces and  building political and military bridges with a large number of countries in India ’s neighbourhood is a justified cause of concern for New Delhi . Moreover, the report takes note of anomaly in terms of nuclear forces strongly in favour of China which, in addition, is also helping Pakistan to build missile and nuclear capability for use against India . The most ominous factor in the security appraisal is the tacit admission of the reality that every major Indian city is within the reach of Chinese missiles and the delivery system is being further augmented to include submarine launched ballistic missiles.

 

 

But ironically, it is for the first time that the annual report  has attracted Beijing ’s contentious reaction necessitating  harshly worded comments of its foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao. He pronounced the China Pakistan military cooperation as ‘normal’ and stated that finding fault on this score on New Delhi ’s part for no reason is ‘irresponsible.’ He in turn blamed India ’s unwise step in ‘attempting to seek an excuse to develop the military.’ The spokesman also commented on India ’s now operational 2000 kilometre range Agni missile and the ongoing programme relating to further augmentation of the missile’s reach by disclosing that China was paying close attention to India ’s decision in this regard. 

 

 

Chinese have somehow achieved expertise in incorporating Machiavellian concepts in their aggressive foreign policy. They are shrewd  and habitual bluff masters. In January this year, Li  Peng, former Prime Minister and now chairman of People's National Congress who was on an official visit to India , had reassured the host country that China posed no threat to it. His emphasis was on keeping good neighbourly and friendly relations with India . In his view, developing such relations with India was essential part of China ’s foreign policy.

 

 

But in case of Chinese leaders, there is a lot of difference between what they preach on the one hand and practice on the other. Strangely, they talk of building mutual trust between the two big Asian neighbours and at the same time not only build up their nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile force but also assist Pakistan in doing so in an effort to stab India in the back by proxy. They are also actively engaged in construction strategically important roads close to Line of Actual Control which is, in fact, Indian territory grabbed by them during the infamous 1962 attack. During the last two years, the PLA troops have reportedly made more than one hundred armed incursions into the Indian territory in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

 

 

The Chinese have viewed with ’jaundiced eyes’ measures to defend itself in a vitiated security scenario in South Asia and hence it has viewed Indian attempts to build the minimum nuclear deterrence with jaundiced eyes. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman’s comments are reflection of the craftiness in which the Chinese are adept. Beijing ’s aims are clear. It is striving hard to achieve superpower status and wants to dominate Asia . It sees in India the potential to develop into a rival power centre and hence is keen to pin it down in the subcontinent by propping up Pakistan .

 

 

While friendly overtures in economic, commerce, cultural and other related areas with China must be reciprocated, India must not repose blind faith on the wily dragon especially on matters concerning nation’s security and defence. There is a need for India to match China militarily by developing itself into a first rate military power capable of deterring Chinese expansionist designs. New Delhi must insist on China to solve the Himalayan border dispute, demilitarise Tibet and recognise Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh as parts of India . Until the Chinese match their sugar coated words with friendly moves on the ground, the MoD’s annual report branding China as a threat will be justified.

 

 

 

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