India turns down China’s border proposals
7 Sept 2013 5:10 AM IST
A Chinese delegation came to New Delhi on 13 July and 20 August to talk with Indian counterparts about how to manage the boundaries of the two countries. They made two proposals: both of which were turned down by the government.
One, they wanted a 20 km de-militarised zone (DMZ) on either side of the two claim lines (that of India and China). And two, they wanted the two countries to restrict their territorial claims to the presently ‘occupied position.’
It is noteworthy to keep in mind that neither of the two countries actually occupy territory up to their claim lines (see map). This offer for DMZ and the limit of ‘occupied position’ was argued by the late Zhou-en Lai, then premier of China to Jawaharlal Nehru, then prime minister on 24 October, 1962. In a response the government in New Delhi rejected the proposal on 27 October, instead arguing for the Chinese government to agree to a position they had on 8 September, 1962.
The Chinese had attacked the country on 20 October, 1962, and withdrawn from their frontline positions on 20 November.
Meanwhile, army sources say that there has not been any directive from the government either in the eastern boundary or the western frontier, to limit their patrols.
India is currently at a stage of augmenting military infrastructure on both sides. This began with road connections to the forward areas. But more importantly, observers say, what is worrying the Chinese is the Jammu to Kashmir valley railway link; the Rohtang tunnel that is being dug to connect Manali to Upshi; and upgradations of the advanced landing grounds (ALGs).
Along with this is a talk of raising a mountain Corps with two separate mountain divisions. The deployment of two regiments of BrahMos cruise missiles, besides planned induction of Russian Smerch Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) with their 90 km ranges and the indigenous Pinaka MBRLs with 40 km ranges .
All this is supposedly worrying the Chinese military and political planners, though these are being seen by Indian strategists as defensive measures against a plausible offensive operation. The 15 and 16 Corps that are operating out of the Kashmir valley are being viewed as the frontline forces in defence of the Ladakh route. Army sources say that in the eastern boundary that is defined by the McMahon line, the army patrols reach up to it, though is not often mentioned publicly.
One, they wanted a 20 km de-militarised zone (DMZ) on either side of the two claim lines (that of India and China). And two, they wanted the two countries to restrict their territorial claims to the presently ‘occupied position.’
It is noteworthy to keep in mind that neither of the two countries actually occupy territory up to their claim lines (see map). This offer for DMZ and the limit of ‘occupied position’ was argued by the late Zhou-en Lai, then premier of China to Jawaharlal Nehru, then prime minister on 24 October, 1962. In a response the government in New Delhi rejected the proposal on 27 October, instead arguing for the Chinese government to agree to a position they had on 8 September, 1962.
The Chinese had attacked the country on 20 October, 1962, and withdrawn from their frontline positions on 20 November.
Meanwhile, army sources say that there has not been any directive from the government either in the eastern boundary or the western frontier, to limit their patrols.
India is currently at a stage of augmenting military infrastructure on both sides. This began with road connections to the forward areas. But more importantly, observers say, what is worrying the Chinese is the Jammu to Kashmir valley railway link; the Rohtang tunnel that is being dug to connect Manali to Upshi; and upgradations of the advanced landing grounds (ALGs).
Along with this is a talk of raising a mountain Corps with two separate mountain divisions. The deployment of two regiments of BrahMos cruise missiles, besides planned induction of Russian Smerch Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) with their 90 km ranges and the indigenous Pinaka MBRLs with 40 km ranges .
All this is supposedly worrying the Chinese military and political planners, though these are being seen by Indian strategists as defensive measures against a plausible offensive operation. The 15 and 16 Corps that are operating out of the Kashmir valley are being viewed as the frontline forces in defence of the Ladakh route. Army sources say that in the eastern boundary that is defined by the McMahon line, the army patrols reach up to it, though is not often mentioned publicly.
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