Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face- off in the Dokalam area of the Sikkim sector for over a month after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area.
Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said on Wednesday,“The vast haul was transported to a region south of the Kunlun mountains in northern Tibet by the western theatre command, which oversees the restive regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, and handles border issues with India,” quoting the People’s Liberation Army Daily.
China has constantly blamed India for the border standoff and trespass, claiming that the latter has prevented Chinese soldiers from constructing a road in the region.
Doklam is located in an area of strategic importance- the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan.
China wants Indian troops to withdraw from Doklam before talks can be conducted. However, New Delhi maintains that there will be serious security implications for India once the road is built.
Wang Dehua from the South Asia Studies Centre at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies has said that given the scale of equipment transferred to the region, China will be able to defend its border more easily. “Military operations are all about logistics. Now there is much better logistics support to the Tibet region,” he told South China Morning Post.
Indian Defence Strategy analysts are not confused with the constant strategy adopted
by the Chinese official media to sound about the hawkish intentions of PLA, but it is easily understood that these are more for the consumption of Indian media and opposition political junta so as to create pressure on the ruling Indian government.
India has made elaborate arrangements to counter any threat from the side of China and it has been going on for last three years.Many airstrips have been added close to borders, a new network of heavy roads and ammunition storage depots have been added, all with an eye on the hawkish stance China takes in keeping border disputes running with most of its neighbours.
But a deep strategic analysis allows comfort to India, having assured of enough room for manoeuvring the situation created by the Chinese verbal and visual threat. Yes, India must remain alerted to the internal factors, which are more difficult and dangerous, by creating obstacles for the Modi government in handling in any arising situation.