The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-ready-for-any-unforeseen-situation-in-doklam-nirmala-sithraman-37013">Doklam standoff</a> happened due to “lack of mutual trust” between India and China, and they need to work together to create favourable conditions and gradually settle the boundary issue, a top Chinese diplomat said today, ahead of this week’s informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dont-change-status-quo-on-border-to-avert-another-doklam-indias-envoy-36965">Indian and Chinese troops</a> had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before “disengaging” on August 28. The area of the standoff is also claimed by Bhutan. “The boundary incident that happened (at Doklam) last year someway reflected lack of mutual trust between the two countries,” Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told the media when asked about the Doklam standoff.

Asked whether the Doklam standoff and the boundary issue will figure in the talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi, Kong said the two leaders decided to hold informal summit “because both the countries attach great importance to each other in external strategy, not because of the boundary question that still remained unresolved, that we need to talk about it during the informal summit”.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-bilateral-trade-hits-historic-high-of-8444-billion-in-2017-34998">Despite Doklam, India-China bilateral trade hit </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-bilateral-trade-hits-historic-high-of-8444-billion-in-2017-34998">historic</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-bilateral-trade-hits-historic-high-of-8444-billion-in-2017-34998"> high of $84.44 billion in 2017</a>

India-China boundary dispute spans to 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both sides have held 20 rounds of talks between the Special Representatives to resolve it. “Of course, the boundary question is important. Both sides need to work together to create favourable conditions and gradually settle it. Proper settlement of boundary question will help deepen cooperation and deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two countries,” Kong said.

He said both China and India need to even make greater efforts to deepen their mutual trust. “At the informal summit, the two leaders will have heart-to-heart discussions on the issues of overarching, long-term and strategic importance to bilateral relations. In terms of some specific differences or sensitive issues, the two sides will stay in touch with each other through relevant channels. In the process of deepening mutual trust, they will gradually find a way to try to settle them,” he said.

"The boundary incident that happened (at Doklam) last year someway reflected lack of mutual trust between the two countries," Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told the media when asked about the Doklam standoff.

The Doklam standoff happened due to “lack of mutual trust” between India and China, and they need to work together to create favourable conditions and gradually settle the boundary issue, a top Chinese diplomat said today, ahead of this week’s informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before “disengaging” on August 28. The area of the standoff is also claimed by Bhutan. “The boundary incident that happened (at Doklam) last year someway reflected lack of mutual trust between the two countries,” Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told the media when asked about the Doklam standoff. Asked whether the Doklam standoff and the boundary issue will figure in the talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi, Kong said the two leaders decided to hold informal summit “because both the countries attach great importance to each other in external strategy, not because of the boundary question that still remained unresolved, that we need to talk about it during the informal summit”. Also read: Despite Doklam, India-China bilateral trade hit historic high of $84.44 billion in 2017 India-China boundary dispute spans to 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both sides have held 20 rounds of talks between the Special Representatives to resolve it. “Of course, the boundary question is important. Both sides need to work together to create favourable conditions and gradually settle it. Proper settlement of boundary question will help deepen cooperation and deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two countries,” Kong said. He said both China and India need to even make greater efforts to deepen their mutual trust. “At the informal summit, the two leaders will have heart-to-heart discussions on the issues of overarching, long-term and strategic importance to bilateral relations. In terms of some specific differences or sensitive issues, the two sides will stay in touch with each other through relevant channels. In the process of deepening mutual trust, they will gradually find a way to try to settle them,” he said.

Doklam happened due to lack of mutual trust, says China

Just days after India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China, the foreign ministry said India and China should foster a "more positive energy and expand to new cooperation fields".

India and China have been testing each other's strength at the border post-Doklam with reports of constant Chinese incursion into Indian territory along the Line of Control(LAC).

China's latest move comes after Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held talks with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last Friday.&nbsp;

"China and India share extensive common interests and have a huge potential for cooperation. China attaches great importance to its relationship with India," the foreign ministry said.

The two countries also held the fifth meeting of the China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing last Saturday.

"Our two sides should foster a more positive energy and expand to new cooperation fields in order to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua said.

China has reportedly developed military infrastructure along the LAC with India setting sights on improving its own defense in the area although India and China haven't exchanged fire since 1962 but both forces have been keeping a keen eye on each other as Arunachal Pradesh and other areas have become the latest flashpoints in India-China relations.

China's latest move comes after Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held talks with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last Friday.

Just days after India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China, the foreign ministry said India and China should foster a "more positive energy and expand to new cooperation fields". India and China have been testing each other's strength at the border post-Doklam with reports of constant Chinese incursion into Indian territory along the Line of Control(LAC). China's latest move comes after Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held talks with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last Friday. "China and India share extensive common interests and have a huge potential for cooperation. China attaches great importance to its relationship with India," the foreign ministry said. The two countries also held the fifth meeting of the China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing last Saturday. "Our two sides should foster a more positive energy and expand to new cooperation fields in order to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua said. China has reportedly developed military infrastructure along the LAC with India setting sights on improving its own defense in the area although India and China haven't exchanged fire since 1962 but both forces have been keeping a keen eye on each other as Arunachal Pradesh and other areas have become the latest flashpoints in India-China relations.

Watch: China attaches great importance to its relationship with India, says Chinese foreign ministry

The India-China boundary issue should not be "hyped up" and the two sides must abide by the agreements to maintain the peace and tranquillity along the border areas, the Chinese foreign ministry asserted on Monday.

The ministry skirted a direct response to a report that China has lodged a strong protest with New Delhi, alleging "transgression" by the Indian troops in the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian side has dismissed Beijing's complaint.

"As for the situation on the India-China border, I am not aware of the detailed information," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing when asked about the report.

"Pending the resolution of the issue, we hope the two sides can abide by the agreements and instead of hyping up the relevant issue", Geng said, adding that peace and tranquillity should be upheld in the border areas.

He, however, reiterated China's repeated stand that Beijing never recognised Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of southern Tibet.

"China's position on the India-China border is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh," Geng said.

"China and India are engaged in consultation and negotiation to resolve border issues and pursue a fair and just solution that can be accepted by both sides," he said.

Both the countries have Special Representative talks mechanism to resolve the boundary issue.&nbsp

The two countries so far have held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the boundary dispute and worked out different mechanisms to keep the peace along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).&nbsp

Asked about the recent visit of Chinese vice-foreign minister Kong Xuanyou to New Delhi on April 6 and reports of several Indian top ministers visiting China this month, Geng said, "China and India have the sound momentum of exchanges and close cooperation. It is not strange to have such kind of cooperation."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to due to visit China in June to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, (SCO) summit to be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao.&nbsp

China and India are engaged in consultation and negotiation to resolve border issues and pursue a fair and just solution that can be accepted by the both sides.

The India-China boundary issue should not be "hyped up" and the two sides must abide by the agreements to maintain the peace and tranquillity along the border areas, the Chinese foreign ministry asserted on Monday. The ministry skirted a direct response to a report that China has lodged a strong protest with New Delhi, alleging "transgression" by the Indian troops in the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian side has dismissed Beijing's complaint. "As for the situation on the India-China border, I am not aware of the detailed information," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing when asked about the report. "Pending the resolution of the issue, we hope the two sides can abide by the agreements and instead of hyping up the relevant issue", Geng said, adding that peace and tranquillity should be upheld in the border areas. He, however, reiterated China's repeated stand that Beijing never recognised Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of southern Tibet. "China's position on the India-China border is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh," Geng said. "China and India are engaged in consultation and negotiation to resolve border issues and pursue a fair and just solution that can be accepted by both sides," he said. Both the countries have Special Representative talks mechanism to resolve the boundary issue. The two countries so far have held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the boundary dispute and worked out different mechanisms to keep the peace along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). Asked about the recent visit of Chinese vice-foreign minister Kong Xuanyou to New Delhi on April 6 and reports of several Indian top ministers visiting China this month, Geng said, "China and India have the sound momentum of exchanges and close cooperation. It is not strange to have such kind of cooperation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to due to visit China in June to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, (SCO) summit to be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao.

India-China boundary issue should not be 'hyped up': Beijing

In a fresh incident of friction, the Chinese military last month strongly protested against the Indian Army's "transgression" into the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along the disputed border in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian side roundly rejected the complaint, official sources said.

The sources said the Chinese side raised the issue at a 'Border Personnel Meeting' (BPM) on March 15 here but the Indian Army dismissed it, saying that the area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there.

The sources told PTI that the Chinese side called India's patrolling in the area a "transgression" and the Indian Army objected to the terminology.

"China's protest to our patrolling in Asaphila is surprising," said a source, adding there were several instances of Chinese intrusions in the area which had been taken up seriously by the Indian side in the past.

Under the BPM mechanism, the two sides can register their protest over any incident of transgression as there are varying perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. 
The delegation of China's Peoples Liberation Army specifically mentioned extensive patrolling in Asaphila by Indian troops, saying such "violations" may escalate tensions between the two sides in the area.

However, rejecting the Chinese protest, the Indian side said its troops were aware of the alignment of the LAC and the Army would continue to carry out patrols up to the LAC, the de facto border between the two countries.

Perceptions of the border in the area between India and China are vastly different.

The sources said the Chinese military specifically mentioned large-scale Indian patrolling in Asaphila near Fishtail 1 on December 21, 22 and 23 last.

Indian and Chinese troops hold BPMs to resolve issues triggering tensions along the border.

There are five BPM points along the LAC at Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh, and Nathu La in Sikkim.

The BPM on March 15 had taken place at the Daimai post on the Chinese side in the Kibithu area.

At the BPM, the Chinese also accused the Indian side of damaging its road building equipment when a road laying party left its gear in Tuting in December last year following a protest by India.

The Indian Army rejected the allegation, the sources said.

The Chinese road building team had crossed into Indian territory, about 1 km inside the Line of Actual Control in the Tuting area, in the last week of December.

The road construction team left the area after Indian troops asked them to stop the activity.

The team brought in two excavators which were later returned.

The sources said the Indian Army has increased war-fighting drills to deal with all possible scenarios along the LAC following the Doklam standoff.

"We are fully prepared to deal with any situation," said a senior Army official.

India has been adopting a more assertive approach to counter China's aggressive behaviour along the LAC.

Activities along the LAC by the two countries have increased following the Doklam standoff.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day face-off in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The impasse ended on August 28.

Sources said India has deployed more troops and increased patrolling in the mountainous terrains along the borders with China following the Doklam face-off.

India is also strengthening its surveillance mechanism to keep an eye on Chinese activity along the borders in the strategically sensitive Tibetan region and has even been regularly deploying choppers to carry out recce missions.

The government has been focusing on strengthening its defences along the border with China.

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&nbsp;

In January, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for the country to shift its focus from its borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

The Indian Army said the area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there.

In a fresh incident of friction, the Chinese military last month strongly protested against the Indian Army's "transgression" into the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along the disputed border in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian side roundly rejected the complaint, official sources said. The sources said the Chinese side raised the issue at a 'Border Personnel Meeting' (BPM) on March 15 here but the Indian Army dismissed it, saying that the area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there. The sources told PTI that the Chinese side called India's patrolling in the area a "transgression" and the Indian Army objected to the terminology. "China's protest to our patrolling in Asaphila is surprising," said a source, adding there were several instances of Chinese intrusions in the area which had been taken up seriously by the Indian side in the past. Under the BPM mechanism, the two sides can register their protest over any incident of transgression as there are varying perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. The delegation of China's Peoples Liberation Army specifically mentioned extensive patrolling in Asaphila by Indian troops, saying such "violations" may escalate tensions between the two sides in the area. However, rejecting the Chinese protest, the Indian side said its troops were aware of the alignment of the LAC and the Army would continue to carry out patrols up to the LAC, the de facto border between the two countries. Perceptions of the border in the area between India and China are vastly different. The sources said the Chinese military specifically mentioned large-scale Indian patrolling in Asaphila near Fishtail 1 on December 21, 22 and 23 last. Indian and Chinese troops hold BPMs to resolve issues triggering tensions along the border. There are five BPM points along the LAC at Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh, and Nathu La in Sikkim. The BPM on March 15 had taken place at the Daimai post on the Chinese side in the Kibithu area. At the BPM, the Chinese also accused the Indian side of damaging its road building equipment when a road laying party left its gear in Tuting in December last year following a protest by India. The Indian Army rejected the allegation, the sources said. The Chinese road building team had crossed into Indian territory, about 1 km inside the Line of Actual Control in the Tuting area, in the last week of December. The road construction team left the area after Indian troops asked them to stop the activity. The team brought in two excavators which were later returned. The sources said the Indian Army has increased war-fighting drills to deal with all possible scenarios along the LAC following the Doklam standoff. "We are fully prepared to deal with any situation," said a senior Army official. India has been adopting a more assertive approach to counter China's aggressive behaviour along the LAC. Activities along the LAC by the two countries have increased following the Doklam standoff. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day face-off in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The impasse ended on August 28. Sources said India has deployed more troops and increased patrolling in the mountainous terrains along the borders with China following the Doklam face-off. India is also strengthening its surveillance mechanism to keep an eye on Chinese activity along the borders in the strategically sensitive Tibetan region and has even been regularly deploying choppers to carry out recce missions. The government has been focusing on strengthening its defences along the border with China. × In January, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for the country to shift its focus from its borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

India rejects China’s ‘transgression’ accusations in Arunachal, says will continue patrols up to LAC

India's "provocations" on the border with China will "destroy" the foundation of mutual trust and undermine bilateral ties, a Chinese analyst has said.

The statement comes after top Indian Army officials told PTI that the Indian troops have been deployed along the disputed Sino-India border in the Himalayan range to increase their patrolling at a tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar to prevent a repeat of a Doklam-like standoff.

Reacting to India's increased deployment of troops along the border, Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, claimed that India's "provocations" on the border will "destroy" the foundation of mutual trust and undermine bilateral ties.

"India keeps enhancing its military deployment along the border because it has never believed the border region will become peaceful," Zhao was quoted as saying by the Global Times yesterday.

"India thinks that border conflicts with China will eventually happen," Zhao said.

"India's provocations will destroy mutual trust and aggravate the delicate regional situation," Zhao added. The mutual military distrust will ultimately undermine Sino-Indian relations in all sectors including diplomacy, economy and cultural exchanges, he said.

The Indian officials said the tri-junction, located around 50km from Walong, the easternmost town of India near the Tibet region, is extremely important for India to help it maintain its dominance in the nearby mountain passes and other areas.A senior Indian Army official said Chinese troops did not enter the tri-junction too frequently but had developed a road infrastructure near the area which could be advantageous for the mobilisation of army personnel.

Troops of India and China were previously locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28. The area in Doklam where China tried to construct a road is a disputed territory claimed by both China and Bhutan.

India sent its troops to stop the Chinese construction activity, saying it could be a threat to its strategic interests in the region. Since the Doklam standoff, India has deployed more troops and increased patrolling along the borders with China in the Tibetan region.&nbsp

Troops of India and China were previously locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year

India's "provocations" on the border with China will "destroy" the foundation of mutual trust and undermine bilateral ties, a Chinese analyst has said. The statement comes after top Indian Army officials told PTI that the Indian troops have been deployed along the disputed Sino-India border in the Himalayan range to increase their patrolling at a tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar to prevent a repeat of a Doklam-like standoff. Reacting to India's increased deployment of troops along the border, Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, claimed that India's "provocations" on the border will "destroy" the foundation of mutual trust and undermine bilateral ties. "India keeps enhancing its military deployment along the border because it has never believed the border region will become peaceful," Zhao was quoted as saying by the Global Times yesterday. "India thinks that border conflicts with China will eventually happen," Zhao said. "India's provocations will destroy mutual trust and aggravate the delicate regional situation," Zhao added. The mutual military distrust will ultimately undermine Sino-Indian relations in all sectors including diplomacy, economy and cultural exchanges, he said. The Indian officials said the tri-junction, located around 50km from Walong, the easternmost town of India near the Tibet region, is extremely important for India to help it maintain its dominance in the nearby mountain passes and other areas.A senior Indian Army official said Chinese troops did not enter the tri-junction too frequently but had developed a road infrastructure near the area which could be advantageous for the mobilisation of army personnel. Troops of India and China were previously locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28. The area in Doklam where China tried to construct a road is a disputed territory claimed by both China and Bhutan. India sent its troops to stop the Chinese construction activity, saying it could be a threat to its strategic interests in the region. Since the Doklam standoff, India has deployed more troops and increased patrolling along the borders with China in the Tibetan region.

India thinks border conflicts with China will eventually happen: Chinese analyst

Months after India restricted China's attempt at expanding over Doklam region in Bhutan, reports emerge showing Chinese presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh.

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A group of Chinese constructions, including new People's Liberation Army (PLA) camp, was seen along the LAC in the eastern state.

Chinese expansion along the international border also included Chinese telecommunications tower and an observation post with a surveillance equipment.

The latest expansion from the Chinese side was seen in an area&nbsp;called Tatu located on the other side of Arunachal Pradesh's Kibithu.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chinese?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chinese</a> infrastructure, including new People's Liberation Army (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PLA</a>) camp & houses in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tatu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tatu</a>, on the other side of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArunachalPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArunachalPradesh</a>'s Kibithu. <a href="https://t.co/ncTuGWa25p">pic.twitter.com/ncTuGWa25p</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chinese?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chinese</a> telecommunications tower and observation post with surveillance equipment, a part of their infrastructure in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tatu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tatu</a>, which is on the other side of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArunachalPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArunachalPradesh</a>'s Kibithu. <a href="https://t.co/I0PAmh0ZHo">pic.twitter.com/I0PAmh0ZHo</a>
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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said earlier this month that China was involved in the construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in Doklam.

Her statement came right after India's envoy in Beijing cautioned the government that any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis.&nbsp;

India's envoy to China also asserted that there was "no change" at the standoff site even if the Chinese armed forces are trying to reinforce its troops "well behind the sensitive area".

A group of Chinese infrastructure including new People's Liberation Army (PLA) camp was seen along the LAC in the eastern state

Months after India restricted China's attempt at expanding over Doklam region in Bhutan, reports emerge showing Chinese presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. × A group of Chinese constructions, including new People's Liberation Army (PLA) camp, was seen along the LAC in the eastern state. Chinese expansion along the international border also included Chinese telecommunications tower and an observation post with a surveillance equipment. The latest expansion from the Chinese side was seen in an area called Tatu located on the other side of Arunachal Pradesh's Kibithu. #Chinese infrastructure, including new People's Liberation Army (#PLA) camp & houses in #Tatu, on the other side of #ArunachalPradesh's Kibithu. pic.twitter.com/ncTuGWa25p — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2018 × #Chinese telecommunications tower and observation post with surveillance equipment, a part of their infrastructure in #Tatu, which is on the other side of #ArunachalPradesh's Kibithu. pic.twitter.com/I0PAmh0ZHo — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2018 × Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said earlier this month that China was involved in the construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in Doklam. Her statement came right after India's envoy in Beijing cautioned the government that any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis. India's envoy to China also asserted that there was "no change" at the standoff site even if the Chinese armed forces are trying to reinforce its troops "well behind the sensitive area".

Chinese Army builds tower, camps along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, faces increasing isolation in his home in exile as India tones down an assertive stand toward its powerful neighbour and rival, China, in the hope of calming ties strained by a border stand-off.

The Asian giants were locked in a 73-day military face off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of their disputed border last year, with, at one point, soldiers from the two sides throwing punches and stones at each other.

The confrontation between the nuclear-armed powers in the Himalayas underscored Indian alarm at China's expanding security and economic links in South Asia.

China's ambitious Belt and Road initiative of transport and energy links bypasses India, apart from a corner of the disputed Kashmir region, also claimed by Pakistan, but involves India's neighbours Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives.

Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist government, is reversing course, apparently after realising its hard line on China was not working, and the Dalai Lama is facing the cold shoulder.

"We are moving forward with this relationship, the idea is to put the events of 2017 behind us," an Indian government source involved in China policy said.

The idea is to "be sensitive" to each other's core concerns and not let differences turn into disputes, the source said.

The Dalai Lama has lived mostly in the north Indian town of Dharamsala since 1959, when he fled a Chinese crackdown on an uprising in his homeland.

In Dharamsala, his supporters run a small government in exile and campaign for autonomy for Tibet by peaceful means. India has allowed him to pursue his religious activities in the country and to travel abroad.

Early this month, India issued an unprecedented ban on Tibetans holding a rally with the Dalai Lama in New Delhi to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the failed uprising against Chinese rule.

'DEEPLY RESPECTED'

This week, the Dalai Lama cancelled a visit to the Indian border state of Sikkim this week, hosted by authorities there, officials say, lest it offended China.

Sikkim is south of the Doklam plateau where the hundreds of Indian and Chinese soldiers confronted each other last year after India objected to China's construction of a road in an area claimed by India's tiny ally, Bhutan.

Even "thank you" rallies by Tibetans planned for New Delhi to show appreciation to India for hosting the Dalai Lama and his followers have been shifted to Dharamsala.

India's foreign ministry said the government had not changed its position on the Dalai Lama.

"He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India," spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

But India's recent attitude is in stark contrast with his former treatment.

In 2016, the Dalai Lama was invited to India's presidential palace for a ceremony honouring Nobel Peace prize winners. The government later allowed him to visit the disputed state of Arunachal Pradesh, disregarding Chinese objections.

China reviles the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist and his activities in India have always been a source of friction, and a tool with which India can needle China.

"Tibet has utility to irritate China, but it is becoming costly for us now. They are punishing us," said P. Stobdan, a former Indian ambassador.

China has blocked India's membership of a nuclear cartel and it also blocks U.N. sanctions against a Pakistan-based militant leader blamed for attacks on India.

'UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT'

The Tibetan government-in-exile has been phlegmatic, expressing understanding of the shifting circumstances and gratitude to India for hosting the Dalai Lama for 60 years.

"The Indian government has its reasons why, these coming months are sensitive, and we completely understand and respect that so there's no disappointment at all," Lobsang Sangay, the head of the government in exile told reporters.

China has hailed better ties.

"Everyone can see that recently, due to the efforts of both sides, China-India relations have maintained positive momentum and development, and exchanges and cooperation in all areas have achieved new progress," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday.

Lu said China was willing to work with India to maintain exchanges on all levels and to increase mutual political trust and "appropriately control differences".

A flurry of visits is planned.

Next week, India National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is heading to China and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is due to visit in April.

Modi will visit in June for a regional conference and talks with President Xi Jinping.

The two sides are also expected to revive "hand-in-hand" counter-terrorism exercises when India's defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, visits China in April, a defence source said. The drills were suspended earlier.

The Asian giants were locked in a 73-day military face off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of their disputed border last year, with, at one point, soldiers from the two sides throwing punches and stones at each other.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, faces increasing isolation in his home in exile as India tones down an assertive stand toward its powerful neighbour and rival, China, in the hope of calming ties strained by a border stand-off. The Asian giants were locked in a 73-day military face off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of their disputed border last year, with, at one point, soldiers from the two sides throwing punches and stones at each other. The confrontation between the nuclear-armed powers in the Himalayas underscored Indian alarm at China's expanding security and economic links in South Asia. China's ambitious Belt and Road initiative of transport and energy links bypasses India, apart from a corner of the disputed Kashmir region, also claimed by Pakistan, but involves India's neighbours Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist government, is reversing course, apparently after realising its hard line on China was not working, and the Dalai Lama is facing the cold shoulder. "We are moving forward with this relationship, the idea is to put the events of 2017 behind us," an Indian government source involved in China policy said. The idea is to "be sensitive" to each other's core concerns and not let differences turn into disputes, the source said. The Dalai Lama has lived mostly in the north Indian town of Dharamsala since 1959, when he fled a Chinese crackdown on an uprising in his homeland. In Dharamsala, his supporters run a small government in exile and campaign for autonomy for Tibet by peaceful means. India has allowed him to pursue his religious activities in the country and to travel abroad. Early this month, India issued an unprecedented ban on Tibetans holding a rally with the Dalai Lama in New Delhi to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the failed uprising against Chinese rule. 'DEEPLY RESPECTED' This week, the Dalai Lama cancelled a visit to the Indian border state of Sikkim this week, hosted by authorities there, officials say, lest it offended China. Sikkim is south of the Doklam plateau where the hundreds of Indian and Chinese soldiers confronted each other last year after India objected to China's construction of a road in an area claimed by India's tiny ally, Bhutan. Even "thank you" rallies by Tibetans planned for New Delhi to show appreciation to India for hosting the Dalai Lama and his followers have been shifted to Dharamsala. India's foreign ministry said the government had not changed its position on the Dalai Lama. "He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India," spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. But India's recent attitude is in stark contrast with his former treatment. In 2016, the Dalai Lama was invited to India's presidential palace for a ceremony honouring Nobel Peace prize winners. The government later allowed him to visit the disputed state of Arunachal Pradesh, disregarding Chinese objections. China reviles the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist and his activities in India have always been a source of friction, and a tool with which India can needle China. "Tibet has utility to irritate China, but it is becoming costly for us now. They are punishing us," said P. Stobdan, a former Indian ambassador. China has blocked India's membership of a nuclear cartel and it also blocks U.N. sanctions against a Pakistan-based militant leader blamed for attacks on India. 'UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT' The Tibetan government-in-exile has been phlegmatic, expressing understanding of the shifting circumstances and gratitude to India for hosting the Dalai Lama for 60 years. "The Indian government has its reasons why, these coming months are sensitive, and we completely understand and respect that so there's no disappointment at all," Lobsang Sangay, the head of the government in exile told reporters. China has hailed better ties. "Everyone can see that recently, due to the efforts of both sides, China-India relations have maintained positive momentum and development, and exchanges and cooperation in all areas have achieved new progress," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday. Lu said China was willing to work with India to maintain exchanges on all levels and to increase mutual political trust and "appropriately control differences". A flurry of visits is planned. Next week, India National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is heading to China and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is due to visit in April. Modi will visit in June for a regional conference and talks with President Xi Jinping. The two sides are also expected to revive "hand-in-hand" counter-terrorism exercises when India's defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, visits China in April, a defence source said. The drills were suspended earlier.

Dalai Lama faces cold shoulder as India looks to improve China ties

China said today it will resume sharing with India the hydrological data of the Brahmaputra river as top water resource officials of the two countries wrapped up two-day talks, the first after Beijing last year stopped providing the data crucial to predict floods.

"On the basis of humanitarian spirit and our shared will to develop bilateral ties we will continue with the cooperation on hydrological information cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here.

He was responding to a question whether China will resume sharing of the hydrological data on Brahmaputra river, which Beijing suspended last year stating that it could not share it with India due to upgradation of data collection station in Tibet.

China's announcement to not to share the data came soon after the 73-day long stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Dokalam over Chinese military's plans to build a road close to India's Chicken Neck corridor connecting North-Eastern states.

A team of officials of India's Ministry of Water Resources held talks with their Chinese counterparts on the cooperation of trans-border rivers in the last two days at the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the first after Beijing last year stopped providing the data. Lu said during the talks the two sides reviewed the achievements of the previous meetings as well as bilateral cooperation on emergency and response and hydrological information.

"The two sides have agreed to continue with such cooperation. On the grounds of humanitarian principles and the basis of bilateral relations China will continue with this cooperation with the Indian side on the provision of hydrological information and emergency response cooperation," Lu said.

Asked whether China would resume the data, Lu said "since you made it quite clear", China will continue with the cooperation on hydrological information cooperation. The two-day talks of the 11th meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on Trans-Border Rivers concluded yesterday at Hangzhou, a statement from the Indian Embassy here said today.

The Indian side was led by Teerath Singh Mehra, Commissioner (B&B), Ministry of Water Resources and the Chinese side by Yu Xingjun, Consul, Department of International Cooperation Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources.

The meeting which was held in a "cordial and friendly" atmosphere reviewed the progress made since the earlier meetings of the ELM and their continued cooperation on provision of hydrological information and emergency management in respect of trans-border rivers, the press release said.

The officials also reviewed the data utilisation report upon provision of hydrological information provided by China to India in flood season on Brahmaputra and Sutlej Rivers.

The institutional mechanism of the ELM was established in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides to India hydrological information of Brahmaputra River (Yarlong Zangbo) and Sutlej River (Langqen Zangbo) during the flood seasons.

Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.

China has been building major dams on Brahmaputra river to generate hydel power. It operationalised Zangmu hydroelectric project in October, 2015 and three more are under construction.

While dams raised concerns of water shortages in India and Bangladesh, which are lower riparian states of Brahmaputra river, China said its dams were aimed at generating power and not storing water. The data shared by upper riparian state, China, to lower riparian states, India and Bangladesh is essential every monsoon to allow anticipation of the flow of the water and take necessary measures to deal with flooding in India's north-eastern States.

The officials also reviewed the data utilisation report upon provision of hydrological information provided by China to India in flood season on Brahmaputra and Sutlej Rivers.

China said today it will resume sharing with India the hydrological data of the Brahmaputra river as top water resource officials of the two countries wrapped up two-day talks, the first after Beijing last year stopped providing the data crucial to predict floods. "On the basis of humanitarian spirit and our shared will to develop bilateral ties we will continue with the cooperation on hydrological information cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here. He was responding to a question whether China will resume sharing of the hydrological data on Brahmaputra river, which Beijing suspended last year stating that it could not share it with India due to upgradation of data collection station in Tibet. China's announcement to not to share the data came soon after the 73-day long stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Dokalam over Chinese military's plans to build a road close to India's Chicken Neck corridor connecting North-Eastern states. A team of officials of India's Ministry of Water Resources held talks with their Chinese counterparts on the cooperation of trans-border rivers in the last two days at the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the first after Beijing last year stopped providing the data. Lu said during the talks the two sides reviewed the achievements of the previous meetings as well as bilateral cooperation on emergency and response and hydrological information. "The two sides have agreed to continue with such cooperation. On the grounds of humanitarian principles and the basis of bilateral relations China will continue with this cooperation with the Indian side on the provision of hydrological information and emergency response cooperation," Lu said. Asked whether China would resume the data, Lu said "since you made it quite clear", China will continue with the cooperation on hydrological information cooperation. The two-day talks of the 11th meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on Trans-Border Rivers concluded yesterday at Hangzhou, a statement from the Indian Embassy here said today. The Indian side was led by Teerath Singh Mehra, Commissioner (B&B), Ministry of Water Resources and the Chinese side by Yu Xingjun, Consul, Department of International Cooperation Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources. The meeting which was held in a "cordial and friendly" atmosphere reviewed the progress made since the earlier meetings of the ELM and their continued cooperation on provision of hydrological information and emergency management in respect of trans-border rivers, the press release said. The officials also reviewed the data utilisation report upon provision of hydrological information provided by China to India in flood season on Brahmaputra and Sutlej Rivers. The institutional mechanism of the ELM was established in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides to India hydrological information of Brahmaputra River (Yarlong Zangbo) and Sutlej River (Langqen Zangbo) during the flood seasons. Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year. China has been building major dams on Brahmaputra river to generate hydel power. It operationalised Zangmu hydroelectric project in October, 2015 and three more are under construction. While dams raised concerns of water shortages in India and Bangladesh, which are lower riparian states of Brahmaputra river, China said its dams were aimed at generating power and not storing water. The data shared by upper riparian state, China, to lower riparian states, India and Bangladesh is essential every monsoon to allow anticipation of the flow of the water and take necessary measures to deal with flooding in India's north-eastern States.

China to resume sharing hydrological data with India on Brahmaputra

Not very often journalists get the chance to go to no-go areas in the North-East. After a decade of exposure to Siachin glacier and Line of Control (LoC), the attention of the government has shifted to a region which has been draped in mystique, myth, war, defeat and heroism. 
&nbsp 
To be able to visit the remotest part of Arunachal Pradesh as part of a group and understand the life around Line of Actual Control (LAC) - which divides India and China - is a privilege. The decision by the government to give access to areas which saw brutal war of 1962 and understand the functioning of the Army in changed geo-political climate in Asia reflects a change in its mindset and evolution of different priorities of both the Army and civilian leadership. 
&nbsp 
The Siachin and LoC exposure made people understand the violence in the border areas - general rhetoric usually suits political parties but not the soldiers on the border. They die. They take the bullet. Their bodies are consumed on TV screens but the men in coffin do not go back to their families.

They become fodder on TV nationalism. 
&nbsp 
The North-East is different. It is accepted cutting across the Army and political leadership. When you talk about the North-East, it is not Pakistan but China which is the issue. 
&nbsp 
The situation gets complicated politically as a hyper-nationalist mindset wants the Indian Army to teach the PLA one lesson every week.

It does not suit anyone.

Doklam was one example. The Army and the government showed more restraint than the media and civil society. Maybe this needs to change. Someone wants that the civil society should understand the difficulty and complexity of the North-East. 
&nbsp 
Perhaps for the first time, the difficulty of the terrain and inhumanness of geography in the North-East would stand exposed to an audience sitting in the drawing room. 
&nbsp 
It is not that the Indian Army is afraid of action, it is just that it wants to impart a sense of realism in civil society.

China can build roads right up to the border but the Indian Army cannot because of the terrain. After years of defensive posturing whereby lack of roads and bridges stood as a defensive strategy, the state is executing a 1,703 km long Trans-Arunachal Pradesh Highway and another stretch of 780 km of roads to inter-connect valleys which in the past was never done.&nbsp 
&nbsp 
Even the bridge-building had been slow in the North-East. Many would argue that the lack of infrastructure perhaps reflected a thinking that it would slow down a raging Chinese Army. Today, the opposite is happening. Slightly more confident India is building infrastructure, the latest example is the Bhupen Hazarika bridge (spanning the Lohit river and connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Assam) which is 9.15 km long. 
&nbsp 
But it does not match the Chinese size and scale. The Chinese have been able to build buildings and concrete huts with air conditioners near the border. The assessment is that they are trying to bring smaller settlements huddled together. It also reflects their confidence. Indian patrolling around disputed areas known as Fish Tail 1 and Fish Tail 2 is far more aggressive and frequent. The Chinese don’t go there much. 
&nbsp 
India has its problem. The Army has inherited a burden of bad connectivity and slow decision making. Whether it is of their making or top-down political percolation, the blame is difficult to pin down. 
&nbsp 
There are areas - not on our map - which India claims as its own. Long patrolling is conducted in those areas. Indian troops travel 28 days and cover 90 km area on long treks on smaller treks, they take 20 days. The trek is needed as there are no roads and the border needs to be checked diligently. 
&nbsp 
It shows how contentious the border issue really is!&nbsp

The LAC is divided into sensitive and disputed areas. Disputed areas are those where both parties acknowledge a dispute. "Sensitive areas" are those where despite different perspective, the "dispute" is not acknowledged and the "claim" is laid. The latter is more sensitive than the former as it doesn’t have any rules of engagement. 
&nbsp 
Lastly, LAC is not LoC. It never will be and perhaps this is the message which the Army wants to send across. It wants to break the stereotype. Unlike other places, Hindi binds all the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. They are better Hindi speakers than many mainland states. 
&nbsp 
Siachin killed more people with its cold fury than bullets. The message went across as journalists visited the barren cold beast.

The fervour of Siachin war was subdued with reality. The Eastern theatre also needs this dose of reality. The civil society should realise that this theatre will never witness localized violence or skirmish. It will not create a crass Hollywood style consumable violence for the TV audience.

Any exchange in LAC has potential to derail India’s growth story. China waited long to assert itself. Indians can also be a bit patient allowing elbow room to the Indian Army which is already facing two nuclear-armed foes who are each other’s best friends.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When you talk about the North-East, it is not Pakistan but China which is the issue

Not very often journalists get the chance to go to no-go areas in the North-East. After a decade of exposure to Siachin glacier and Line of Control (LoC), the attention of the government has shifted to a region which has been draped in mystique, myth, war, defeat and heroism. To be able to visit the remotest part of Arunachal Pradesh as part of a group and understand the life around Line of Actual Control (LAC) - which divides India and China - is a privilege. The decision by the government to give access to areas which saw brutal war of 1962 and understand the functioning of the Army in changed geo-political climate in Asia reflects a change in its mindset and evolution of different priorities of both the Army and civilian leadership. The Siachin and LoC exposure made people understand the violence in the border areas - general rhetoric usually suits political parties but not the soldiers on the border. They die. They take the bullet. Their bodies are consumed on TV screens but the men in coffin do not go back to their families. They become fodder on TV nationalism. The North-East is different. It is accepted cutting across the Army and political leadership. When you talk about the North-East, it is not Pakistan but China which is the issue. The situation gets complicated politically as a hyper-nationalist mindset wants the Indian Army to teach the PLA one lesson every week. It does not suit anyone. Doklam was one example. The Army and the government showed more restraint than the media and civil society. Maybe this needs to change. Someone wants that the civil society should understand the difficulty and complexity of the North-East. Perhaps for the first time, the difficulty of the terrain and inhumanness of geography in the North-East would stand exposed to an audience sitting in the drawing room. It is not that the Indian Army is afraid of action, it is just that it wants to impart a sense of realism in civil society. China can build roads right up to the border but the Indian Army cannot because of the terrain. After years of defensive posturing whereby lack of roads and bridges stood as a defensive strategy, the state is executing a 1,703 km long Trans-Arunachal Pradesh Highway and another stretch of 780 km of roads to inter-connect valleys which in the past was never done. Even the bridge-building had been slow in the North-East. Many would argue that the lack of infrastructure perhaps reflected a thinking that it would slow down a raging Chinese Army. Today, the opposite is happening. Slightly more confident India is building infrastructure, the latest example is the Bhupen Hazarika bridge (spanning the Lohit river and connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Assam) which is 9.15 km long. But it does not match the Chinese size and scale. The Chinese have been able to build buildings and concrete huts with air conditioners near the border. The assessment is that they are trying to bring smaller settlements huddled together. It also reflects their confidence. Indian patrolling around disputed areas known as Fish Tail 1 and Fish Tail 2 is far more aggressive and frequent. The Chinese don’t go there much. India has its problem. The Army has inherited a burden of bad connectivity and slow decision making. Whether it is of their making or top-down political percolation, the blame is difficult to pin down. There are areas - not on our map - which India claims as its own. Long patrolling is conducted in those areas. Indian troops travel 28 days and cover 90 km area on long treks on smaller treks, they take 20 days. The trek is needed as there are no roads and the border needs to be checked diligently. It shows how contentious the border issue really is! The LAC is divided into sensitive and disputed areas. Disputed areas are those where both parties acknowledge a dispute. "Sensitive areas" are those where despite different perspective, the "dispute" is not acknowledged and the "claim" is laid. The latter is more sensitive than the former as it doesn’t have any rules of engagement. Lastly, LAC is not LoC. It never will be and perhaps this is the message which the Army wants to send across. It wants to break the stereotype. Unlike other places, Hindi binds all the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. They are better Hindi speakers than many mainland states. Siachin killed more people with its cold fury than bullets. The message went across as journalists visited the barren cold beast. The fervour of Siachin war was subdued with reality. The Eastern theatre also needs this dose of reality. The civil society should realise that this theatre will never witness localized violence or skirmish. It will not create a crass Hollywood style consumable violence for the TV audience. Any exchange in LAC has potential to derail India’s growth story. China waited long to assert itself. Indians can also be a bit patient allowing elbow room to the Indian Army which is already facing two nuclear-armed foes who are each other’s best friends. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Arunachal & North-East - Old frontier but a new challenge for the Indian Army

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman has assured that the government was&nbsp;constantly working&nbsp;on the modernisation&nbsp;of the forces.&nbsp;

She said that the government is alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam.

She said &quot;We are alert &amp; ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity&quot;.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uttarakhand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uttarakhand</a>: We are alert &amp; ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dehradun?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dehradun</a> <a href="https://t.co/q4XaSjXxD7">pic.twitter.com/q4XaSjXxD7</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977828788175360001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-building-helipads-sentry-posts-trenches-in-doklam-area-defence-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-34774" target="_blank">China building helipads, sentry posts, trenches in Doklam area: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman</a>

The Defence Minister had said earlier this month that China was involved in the construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in Doklam.

Sitharaman&#39;s assurance has come after India&#39;s envoy in Beijing cautioned the government that any change of status quo along India- China border may lead to another Doklam like crises.&nbsp;

Though he asserted that there was &quot;no change&quot; at the standoff site even if the Chinese armed forces are trying to reinforce its troops &quot;well behind the sensitive area&quot;.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman has assured that the government was constantly working on the modernisation of the forces

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman has assured that the government was constantly working on the modernisation of the forces. She said that the government is alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. She said "We are alert & ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity". #Uttarakhand: We are alert & ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in #Dehradun pic.twitter.com/q4XaSjXxD7 — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 × Also read: China building helipads, sentry posts, trenches in Doklam area: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman The Defence Minister had said earlier this month that China was involved in the construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in Doklam. Sitharaman's assurance has come after India's envoy in Beijing cautioned the government that any change of status quo along India- China border may lead to another Doklam like crises. Though he asserted that there was "no change" at the standoff site even if the Chinese armed forces are trying to reinforce its troops "well behind the sensitive area".

Government ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam: Nirmala Sitharaman

Any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis, India&#39;s envoy in Beijing has cautioned even as he asserted there was &quot;no change&quot; at the standoff site even though the PLA may be reinforcing its troops &quot;well behind the sensitive area&quot;.

Gautam Bambawale said though &quot;no change&quot; has taken place in the standoff site at Doklam after it was resolved last year, he squarely blamed China for the crisis saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the &quot;status quo&quot; which it should not have.

The 73-day standoff ended on August 28 last year after China agreed to halt the road building activities by PLA troops at Doklam in Sikkim sector.

&quot;No, I can tell you that you in Doklam area, which we call close proximity or sometimes the face-off site, the area where there was close confrontation or close proximity between Indian and Chinese military troops, that there is no change taking place today,&quot; Bambawale said reacting to reports of the Chinese military stepping up infrastructure build-up in the area.

&quot;Maybe behind, the Chinese may be putting more military barracks to put in more soldiers, but that is well behind the sensitive area,&quot; he said in a wide-ranging interview to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

&quot;Those are the things you&#39;re free to do and we are also free to do, because you&#39;re doing it inside your territory and we are doing it inside our territory,&quot; he said.

Indian troops intervened to stop Chinese soldiers from building a road close to India&#39;s narrow &#39;Chicken&#39;s Neck&#39; corridor that connects the northeastern states. Besides China, the area is also claimed by Bhutan.

Recent reports said the Chinese military is trying to work around or outflank Indian troops in the Doklam area.

Bambawale defended India&#39;s decision to stop Chinese troops from building the road saying no attempt should be made to change the status quo.

&quot;If anyone changes the status quo, it will lead to a situation like what happened in Doklam. I can tell you very frankly and you can quote me on this. The Chinese military changed the status quo in the

Doklam area and therefore India reacted to it. Ours was a reaction to the change in the status quo by the Chinese military,&quot; he said, adding that China should inform India about such initiatives in sensitive areas.

He called for delineation of the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) which China has refused earlier.

&quot;The India-China boundary is un-demarcated and un-delineated, so we have to talk to each other to delineate and demarcate it, which means to draw the boundary line. Now in the meantime, while we are discussing where the boundary will lie, both China and India have agreed that we should maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,&quot; he said.

He said at present both countries are having &quot;a lot of dialogue&quot; especially at the political level, and also at the economic level, as he welcomed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi&#39;s recent comments that the Indian elephant and the Chinese dragon must not fight but dance together.

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) in June during which there will &quot;definitely&quot; be a bilateral meeting between him and President Xi Jinping.

The summit is due to be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao from June 9-10.

&quot;During that, we will definitely have bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping. And before that happens we want to have a lot of other meetings,&quot; Bambawale said.

&quot;We will have a whole series of meetings in the next few weeks and months,&quot; he said adding that the boundary officials of both the countries will also meet.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said she will visit China next month. The foreign ministers of the SCO countries are also due to meet before the summit.

About the forays being made by China into India&#39;s neighbourhood, he said New Delhi is not worried about it as it has strong relationships with its neighbours.

He also said South Asian countries are free to have relationships with any country including China.

&quot;Let me tell you very clearly that India has its own relationships with all these countries. These are very strong relationships and India is also doing a lot of projects in all these countries, such as the Maldives, Nepal or Sri Lanka,&quot; he said.

He also spoke of India&#39;s strong reservations about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is part of China&#39;s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and called for candid talks to resolve the differences.

&quot;When we talk about development projects or connectivity projects, they must be transparent, fair and equal. There are certain internationally accepted norms for such projects,&quot; he said in apparent reference to criticism that the BRI projects lacks transparency.

&quot;If a project meets those norms, we will be happy to take part in it. One of the norms is the project should not violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country. Unfortunately, there is this thing called CPEC, which is called a flagship project of BRI, which violates India&#39;s sovereignty and territory integrity. Therefore, we oppose it,&quot; he said.

The USD 50 billion CPEC traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Gautam Bambawale said though 'no change' has taken place in the standoff site at Doklam after it was resolved last year

Any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis, India's envoy in Beijing has cautioned even as he asserted there was "no change" at the standoff site even though the PLA may be reinforcing its troops "well behind the sensitive area". Gautam Bambawale said though "no change" has taken place in the standoff site at Doklam after it was resolved last year, he squarely blamed China for the crisis saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the "status quo" which it should not have. The 73-day standoff ended on August 28 last year after China agreed to halt the road building activities by PLA troops at Doklam in Sikkim sector. "No, I can tell you that you in Doklam area, which we call close proximity or sometimes the face-off site, the area where there was close confrontation or close proximity between Indian and Chinese military troops, that there is no change taking place today," Bambawale said reacting to reports of the Chinese military stepping up infrastructure build-up in the area. "Maybe behind, the Chinese may be putting more military barracks to put in more soldiers, but that is well behind the sensitive area," he said in a wide-ranging interview to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. "Those are the things you're free to do and we are also free to do, because you're doing it inside your territory and we are doing it inside our territory," he said. Indian troops intervened to stop Chinese soldiers from building a road close to India's narrow 'Chicken's Neck' corridor that connects the northeastern states. Besides China, the area is also claimed by Bhutan. Recent reports said the Chinese military is trying to work around or outflank Indian troops in the Doklam area. Bambawale defended India's decision to stop Chinese troops from building the road saying no attempt should be made to change the status quo. "If anyone changes the status quo, it will lead to a situation like what happened in Doklam. I can tell you very frankly and you can quote me on this. The Chinese military changed the status quo in the Doklam area and therefore India reacted to it. Ours was a reaction to the change in the status quo by the Chinese military," he said, adding that China should inform India about such initiatives in sensitive areas. He called for delineation of the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) which China has refused earlier. "The India-China boundary is un-demarcated and un-delineated, so we have to talk to each other to delineate and demarcate it, which means to draw the boundary line. Now in the meantime, while we are discussing where the boundary will lie, both China and India have agreed that we should maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," he said. He said at present both countries are having "a lot of dialogue" especially at the political level, and also at the economic level, as he welcomed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent comments that the Indian elephant and the Chinese dragon must not fight but dance together. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) in June during which there will "definitely" be a bilateral meeting between him and President Xi Jinping. The summit is due to be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao from June 9-10. "During that, we will definitely have bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping. And before that happens we want to have a lot of other meetings," Bambawale said. "We will have a whole series of meetings in the next few weeks and months," he said adding that the boundary officials of both the countries will also meet. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said she will visit China next month. The foreign ministers of the SCO countries are also due to meet before the summit. About the forays being made by China into India's neighbourhood, he said New Delhi is not worried about it as it has strong relationships with its neighbours. He also said South Asian countries are free to have relationships with any country including China. "Let me tell you very clearly that India has its own relationships with all these countries. These are very strong relationships and India is also doing a lot of projects in all these countries, such as the Maldives, Nepal or Sri Lanka," he said. He also spoke of India's strong reservations about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is part of China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and called for candid talks to resolve the differences. "When we talk about development projects or connectivity projects, they must be transparent, fair and equal. There are certain internationally accepted norms for such projects," he said in apparent reference to criticism that the BRI projects lacks transparency. "If a project meets those norms, we will be happy to take part in it. One of the norms is the project should not violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country. Unfortunately, there is this thing called CPEC, which is called a flagship project of BRI, which violates India's sovereignty and territory integrity. Therefore, we oppose it," he said. The USD 50 billion CPEC traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Don't change status quo on border to avert another Doklam: India's envoy

India&#39;s permanent <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/empowered-xi-jinping-says-china-ready-to-fight-bloody-battle-36473">representative at the United Nations</a>, Syed Akbaruddin said today that India and China are &quot;frenemies&quot; who are working with each other despite disagreements.

While responding<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-fighter-planes-helicopters-conducting-reconnaissance-over-north-doklam-intelligence-sources-33036"> to questions at Georgetown University</a>, India&#39;s top diplomat said: &quot;In Hollywood there is a term, which has become quite popular. And that, I think, is called frenemies.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;That&#39;s what we have with China. We engaged with them, we compete with them. In some areas we work with them together and in some areas we agree to disagree and move on,&quot; Akbaruddin added.

India and China were engaged in a battle of nerves over Doklam last year with troops from both countries set on high alert, however, both sides decided to talk to each other and bring down tension in the region.

PM Modi later visited Beijing as both countries vowed to work with each other in the interests of the region.

While responding to China&#39;s controversial One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative which is widely resisted by India, Akbaruddin said: &quot;Belt and Road Initiative, to me, is not a normal multilateral or plurilateral approach...We are not party to that.&quot;

India had skipped China&#39;s high-profile Belt and Road Forum last year due to sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

On the contentious Kashmir issue and Pakistan&#39;s oft-repeated demand on plebiscite, Akbaruddin said: &quot;Frankly to me, issues of India and Pakistan, the way you framed it are yesterday&#39;s problems. This does not mean that we don&#39;t need to address them,&quot; he said, adding that Pakistan has no internal support on it.

India and China were engaged in a battle of nerves over Doklam last year with troops from both countries set on high alert

India's permanent representative at the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin said today that India and China are "frenemies" who are working with each other despite disagreements. While responding to questions at Georgetown University, India's top diplomat said: "In Hollywood there is a term, which has become quite popular. And that, I think, is called frenemies." "That's what we have with China. We engaged with them, we compete with them. In some areas we work with them together and in some areas we agree to disagree and move on," Akbaruddin added. India and China were engaged in a battle of nerves over Doklam last year with troops from both countries set on high alert, however, both sides decided to talk to each other and bring down tension in the region. PM Modi later visited Beijing as both countries vowed to work with each other in the interests of the region. While responding to China's controversial One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative which is widely resisted by India, Akbaruddin said: "Belt and Road Initiative, to me, is not a normal multilateral or plurilateral approach...We are not party to that." India had skipped China's high-profile Belt and Road Forum last year due to sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). On the contentious Kashmir issue and Pakistan's oft-repeated demand on plebiscite, Akbaruddin said: "Frankly to me, issues of India and Pakistan, the way you framed it are yesterday's problems. This does not mean that we don't need to address them," he said, adding that Pakistan has no internal support on it.

'India, China are 'frenemies',' says India's UN diplomat Akbaruddin

India&rsquo;s relationship with China has never been an easy one with frequent border incursions along the 3500-kilometre border between the two Asian neighbours and tensions on the Doklam plateau. But, there&rsquo;s something interesting happening. Beijing has just reached out across the fence to New Delhi to ask for a dance. But like the proverbial crocodile and monkey in the Indian collection of children&#39;s stories, the Panchatantra, will India be the crocodile or the monkey? Will it glide into a waltz with the other big Asian superpower? Or will it first wait for its favourite song to play?&nbsp; 
Senior Foreign Editor Padma Rao examines the question.

Whether it is the tense standoff between the two Asian superpowers on the Doklam highland or the frequent forays by the People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) into Indian territory, China has always employed a tone that resembles a patronizing, scolding, relative towards a poor country cousin &ndash; in this case, India.&nbsp;

Perhaps for the first time in the history of India-China relations, China&#39;s foreign minister Wang Yi struck an astounding note on the subject of India. 2017 had been a particularly tense year between the two neighbors. At his annual press conference, the Chinese foreign minister was asked what he thought of China&#39;s relations with India.&nbsp;

Here&rsquo;s what he said:

&quot;Despite some tests and difficulties, the China-India relationship continues to grow. Chinese and Indian leaders have developed a strategic vision for the future of our relations.&rdquo;

Come again? That was the reaction Mr Yi&rsquo;s remarks evoked across the border, even as India was waking up to a new day of &mdash; possibly &mdash; fresh tensions with China over some border or land issue or another. But there were more surprises in store. While acknowledging that there were contentious issues, Mr Yi said, &lsquo;&rsquo;China is upholding its rights and legitimate interests and taking care to preserve the relationship with India.&rdquo;

Then gushed forth what could have been written off as stream-of-consciousness-babble, were it not for the fact that this was the foreign minister of the mighty People&rsquo;s Republic of China speaking in public, to the media. In essence, here&rsquo;s what he said:&nbsp;

-- Chinese and Indian leaders have a strategic vision for the future of their relations.

-- China and India must do everything to support each other and avoid mutual suspicion. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
-- With political trust, not even the Himalayas can stop our friendly exchanges.

-- Our common interests far outweigh our frictions.

-- If China and India are united, one plus one will become eleven instead of two. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
-- Dragon and elephant must not fight, but dance with each other.

Babble or brotherhood?&nbsp;Such ardent declarations of eternal friendship from China? &nbsp;By now, either most readers have moist eyes or&nbsp;are rolling them at what expansionist China could possibly have meant by &#39;&#39;united&#39;&#39; India and China and the startling mathematics behind &quot;one plus one will become eleven&quot;. &nbsp;But look at it with a cool head and consider what it could possibly mean.&nbsp;

No matter what the foreign minister also said about China&rsquo;s Belt-and-Road-Initiative, China&#39;s brand of debt-trap diplomacy that has ensnared nearly 100 countries is under sharp criticism. Europe has refused to be part of the Silk Road. India, the United States, Japan and - possibly Australia have come together in a strategic grouping known as the &#39;Quad&#39; to counter China&#39;s aggressive land-grabbing &ndash; both in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. And now, &nbsp;China&rsquo;s closest trade partner, the United States, has issued dire warnings.

Trump speaking

The Trump administration is preparing to throttle Chinese investments in the United States and slam tariffs on imports from China. &nbsp;It is going to act firmly against intellectual property theft by China. And most of all, President Trump plans to cut the 620 billion dollar annual trade deficit between the two countries in half and create 2 million jobs for Americans in America.&nbsp;

China is finding itself increasingly isolated in the international arena. India&rsquo;s 1.2 billion-strong market beckons as an attractive alternative, despite India&#39;s stern measures against dumping by Chinese companies. And India is fast emerging as a close strategic ally to the United States than China, especially in matters Pakistan and Afghanistan. What better time for an invitation to the dance floor to New Delhi than now? However, and in the corridors of South Block, Indian diplomats are nobody&rsquo;s fools. They will have long read the fine-print and will tango only if it&rsquo;s a dance between equal partners.

China has always employed a tone that resembles an older, patronising relative towards a poor country cousin — in this case, India

India’s relationship with China has never been an easy one with frequent border incursions along the 3500-kilometre border between the two Asian neighbours and tensions on the Doklam plateau. But, there’s something interesting happening. Beijing has just reached out across the fence to New Delhi to ask for a dance. But like the proverbial crocodile and monkey in the Indian collection of children's stories, the Panchatantra, will India be the crocodile or the monkey? Will it glide into a waltz with the other big Asian superpower? Or will it first wait for its favourite song to play? Senior Foreign Editor Padma Rao examines the question. Whether it is the tense standoff between the two Asian superpowers on the Doklam highland or the frequent forays by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into Indian territory, China has always employed a tone that resembles a patronizing, scolding, relative towards a poor country cousin – in this case, India. Perhaps for the first time in the history of India-China relations, China's foreign minister Wang Yi struck an astounding note on the subject of India. 2017 had been a particularly tense year between the two neighbors. At his annual press conference, the Chinese foreign minister was asked what he thought of China's relations with India. Here’s what he said: "Despite some tests and difficulties, the China-India relationship continues to grow. Chinese and Indian leaders have developed a strategic vision for the future of our relations.” Come again? That was the reaction Mr Yi’s remarks evoked across the border, even as India was waking up to a new day of — possibly — fresh tensions with China over some border or land issue or another. But there were more surprises in store. While acknowledging that there were contentious issues, Mr Yi said, ‘’China is upholding its rights and legitimate interests and taking care to preserve the relationship with India.” Then gushed forth what could have been written off as stream-of-consciousness-babble, were it not for the fact that this was the foreign minister of the mighty People’s Republic of China speaking in public, to the media. In essence, here’s what he said: -- Chinese and Indian leaders have a strategic vision for the future of their relations. -- China and India must do everything to support each other and avoid mutual suspicion. -- With political trust, not even the Himalayas can stop our friendly exchanges. -- Our common interests far outweigh our frictions. -- If China and India are united, one plus one will become eleven instead of two. -- Dragon and elephant must not fight, but dance with each other. Babble or brotherhood? Such ardent declarations of eternal friendship from China? By now, either most readers have moist eyes or are rolling them at what expansionist China could possibly have meant by ''united'' India and China and the startling mathematics behind "one plus one will become eleven". But look at it with a cool head and consider what it could possibly mean. No matter what the foreign minister also said about China’s Belt-and-Road-Initiative, China's brand of debt-trap diplomacy that has ensnared nearly 100 countries is under sharp criticism. Europe has refused to be part of the Silk Road. India, the United States, Japan and - possibly Australia have come together in a strategic grouping known as the 'Quad' to counter China's aggressive land-grabbing – both in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. And now, China’s closest trade partner, the United States, has issued dire warnings. Trump speaking The Trump administration is preparing to throttle Chinese investments in the United States and slam tariffs on imports from China. It is going to act firmly against intellectual property theft by China. And most of all, President Trump plans to cut the 620 billion dollar annual trade deficit between the two countries in half and create 2 million jobs for Americans in America. China is finding itself increasingly isolated in the international arena. India’s 1.2 billion-strong market beckons as an attractive alternative, despite India's stern measures against dumping by Chinese companies. And India is fast emerging as a close strategic ally to the United States than China, especially in matters Pakistan and Afghanistan. What better time for an invitation to the dance floor to New Delhi than now? However, and in the corridors of South Block, Indian diplomats are nobody’s fools. They will have long read the fine-print and will tango only if it’s a dance between equal partners.

Brotherhood or babble? Analysing the Chinese foreign minister's speak on India

Indian and Chinese troops have &quot;redeployed&quot; themselves away from the face-off site in Doklam, and China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel there, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.

&quot;Post disengagement from the face-off in 2017, troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the face-off site. The strength of both sides have been reduced,&quot; she said replying to a question on the issue in Lok Sabha.

&quot;In order to maintain these troops during the winter, People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) has undertaken construction of some infrastructure, including sentry posts, trenches and helipads,&quot; she said.

Last week, MoS for defence Subhash Bhamre had said that the situation along India&#39;s border with China is &quot;sensitive&quot; and it has the potential to escalate.

Sitharaman&#39;s reply today came in response to a question on whether satellite images have revealed that China has constructed seven helipads in Doklam besides deploying tanks and missiles in the area.

On whether India has taken up the matter with China, she said issues relating to the border are regularly taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels and at Border Personnel Meetings, flag meetings and meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.

Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area.

In January, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

To a separate question on a Pentagon report which said China was setting up a military base in Pakistan, Sitharaman said the government keeps a constant watch on developments having a bearing on India&#39;s security and takes measures to safeguard it.

&quot;Government is aware of China&#39;s stated objective of becoming a &#39;maritime power&#39;. As part of this strategy, China is developing ports and other infrastructure facilities in the littoral countries in the Indian Ocean Region, including in the vicinity of India&#39;s maritime boundary,&quot; she said.

She said India and China have, on several occasions, reiterated that as large neighbours following independent foreign policies, the relationship pursued by the two nations with other countries must not become a source of concern for each other.

PLA constructing sentry posts, trenches and helipads in Doklam area to maintain troops during winter, Sitharaman said.

Indian and Chinese troops have "redeployed" themselves away from the face-off site in Doklam, and China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel there, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today. "Post disengagement from the face-off in 2017, troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the face-off site. The strength of both sides have been reduced," she said replying to a question on the issue in Lok Sabha. "In order to maintain these troops during the winter, People's Liberation Army (PLA) has undertaken construction of some infrastructure, including sentry posts, trenches and helipads," she said. Last week, MoS for defence Subhash Bhamre had said that the situation along India's border with China is "sensitive" and it has the potential to escalate. Sitharaman's reply today came in response to a question on whether satellite images have revealed that China has constructed seven helipads in Doklam besides deploying tanks and missiles in the area. On whether India has taken up the matter with China, she said issues relating to the border are regularly taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels and at Border Personnel Meetings, flag meetings and meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28. Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area. In January, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation. To a separate question on a Pentagon report which said China was setting up a military base in Pakistan, Sitharaman said the government keeps a constant watch on developments having a bearing on India's security and takes measures to safeguard it. "Government is aware of China's stated objective of becoming a 'maritime power'. As part of this strategy, China is developing ports and other infrastructure facilities in the littoral countries in the Indian Ocean Region, including in the vicinity of India's maritime boundary," she said. She said India and China have, on several occasions, reiterated that as large neighbours following independent foreign policies, the relationship pursued by the two nations with other countries must not become a source of concern for each other.

China building helipads, sentry posts, trenches in Doklam area: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman

After reports of China upgrading its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-upgrading-air-defence-in-tibet-to-counter-india-threat-says-state-media-33664">air defence along the Line of Actual </a>Control (LAC), a report said it has equipped one its Army branch stationed at the border with US-style integrated individual soldier combat system to prepare for &quot;informatised warfare&quot;.

A Chinese Army branch Special Operations Forces from the Western Theatre Command has been equipped with QTS-11 system in their training, a report in China Central Television (CCTV) said.

Military experts say the QTS-11 system is similar to the US army as it contains soldier combat system, including detection and communications, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert told state-run Global Times newspaper. &nbsp;

&quot;The individual soldier combat system is only part of the digitalised army, something countries are attempting to do. Developing the integrated individual soldier combat system adapts to informatized warfare in the future,&quot; Song said.

China&#39;s sky wolf commandos have reportedly been equipped with QTS-11 system in their training.

The commandos belong to the western theatre command which belong to 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India.

&quot;QTS-11 systems of the US and China are similar but not comparable. The system&#39;s capability depends on how it is used,&quot; Song said.&nbsp;

According to Global Times, China has been rapidly upgrading its air defence as photographs showed a J-10 and J-11 fighter jets conducting aerial combat training exercises on February 13, two days before Spring Festival and it cited Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping as saying it was significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region.

&nbsp;

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

A Chinese Army branch Special Operations Forces from the Western Theatre Command has been equipped with QTS-11 system i

After reports of China upgrading its air defence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a report said it has equipped one its Army branch stationed at the border with US-style integrated individual soldier combat system to prepare for "informatised warfare". A Chinese Army branch Special Operations Forces from the Western Theatre Command has been equipped with QTS-11 system in their training, a report in China Central Television (CCTV) said. Military experts say the QTS-11 system is similar to the US army as it contains soldier combat system, including detection and communications, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert told state-run Global Times newspaper. "The individual soldier combat system is only part of the digitalised army, something countries are attempting to do. Developing the integrated individual soldier combat system adapts to informatized warfare in the future," Song said. China's sky wolf commandos have reportedly been equipped with QTS-11 system in their training. The commandos belong to the western theatre command which belong to 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. "QTS-11 systems of the US and China are similar but not comparable. The system's capability depends on how it is used," Song said. According to Global Times, China has been rapidly upgrading its air defence as photographs showed a J-10 and J-11 fighter jets conducting aerial combat training exercises on February 13, two days before Spring Festival and it cited Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping as saying it was significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region.

China equipping soldiers with US-style digital combat gear along India border: Report

The probable way out for China from the policy impasse it has imposed upon itself is to break the glass ceiling first; they have to patch up with their perceived regional rivals before embarking on global outreach. In that, China needs to move away from their strategy of manipulating their unsubstantiated history and territorial claims without corroborative evidence. In order to rebuild their image, China needs to reach out to both global as well as regional bigwigs by showing genuine cooperative approach, shedding their confrontationist attitude.

&nbsp;

In the South China Sea, the international court had found no proper evidence of historical sovereignty of China over disputed island territories as claimed by them. Hence, China should gracefully accept the verdict in order to reduce the existing political friction with the US and her neighbours in Indo-Pacific. China would be the biggest beneficiary as it would facilitate the transit of their energy supplies and trade without any military threats, reducing their insecurity syndrome which happens to be the main factor of their political irrationalities.

&nbsp;

China should also not forget that success of their economic model is contingent on continued patronage of western countries who use China as their manufacturing hub and operate as markets for Chinese finished goods. In the recently held world economic forum at Davos, the president of US has already conveyed their plans of a protectionist regime. If the US decides to manufacture their own goods, it will have a tremendous effect on China. The Chinese &lsquo;position of strength&rsquo; lies in the continuation of her robust economy, and it is certainly not a good idea to undo their hard-earned achievements by indulging in futile self-defeating aggressive politics. China has to be a part of the team first, so as to be a team leader at an appropriate time.

&nbsp;

Closer home India, with her politico-economic buoyancy and strategic strength, is not a pushover anymore as China perceives. The Doklam episode has not only clearly exposed the Chinese bluff, it has thrown light on India&#39;s political will and military capabilities to neutralise such coercive attempts.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China cannot ignore India. Their economic agenda would be severely impacted as India dominates Chinese logistics network both on western as well as southern flanks. Therefore, unless India is on board, Chinese outreach to rest of the world would always suffer from insecurity syndrome.

&nbsp;

Moreover, commissioning of Chabahar port as an alternate safer and economical route for Eurasian countries and CARs has potential to make a dent in the viability of CPEC scheme. Therefore, it would be most sensible for China to come around the Indian point of view if they want to ensure the success of CPEC, their biggest political investment in recent times. Hence, there is a need to revisit the strategic priorities based on professional logic and rationale instead of typical Chinese egoist emotional hype in their political forays.

&nbsp;

A pragmatic solution lies in the recognition of the legitimacy of J&amp;K as an integral part of India, as agreed by the Maharaja. It would be in Chinese interests to persuade Pakistan to accept the correct legal position of J&amp;K.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A reconciliation between China and India will reduce Chinese security concerns over land as well as in the Indian Ocean, a big strategic take away which China desperately needs. It would resolve most of the contentious political issues, restricting peace and prosperity in the region.

&nbsp;

Such a statesmanship on part of China would catapult her on a high moral pedestal and set precedence for others to follow.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A reconciliation between China and India will reduce Chinese security concerns over land as well as in the Indian Ocean, a big strategic take away which China desperately needs.

The probable way out for China from the policy impasse it has imposed upon itself is to break the glass ceiling first; they have to patch up with their perceived regional rivals before embarking on global outreach. In that, China needs to move away from their strategy of manipulating their unsubstantiated history and territorial claims without corroborative evidence. In order to rebuild their image, China needs to reach out to both global as well as regional bigwigs by showing genuine cooperative approach, shedding their confrontationist attitude. In the South China Sea, the international court had found no proper evidence of historical sovereignty of China over disputed island territories as claimed by them. Hence, China should gracefully accept the verdict in order to reduce the existing political friction with the US and her neighbours in Indo-Pacific. China would be the biggest beneficiary as it would facilitate the transit of their energy supplies and trade without any military threats, reducing their insecurity syndrome which happens to be the main factor of their political irrationalities. China should also not forget that success of their economic model is contingent on continued patronage of western countries who use China as their manufacturing hub and operate as markets for Chinese finished goods. In the recently held world economic forum at Davos, the president of US has already conveyed their plans of a protectionist regime. If the US decides to manufacture their own goods, it will have a tremendous effect on China. The Chinese ‘position of strength’ lies in the continuation of her robust economy, and it is certainly not a good idea to undo their hard-earned achievements by indulging in futile self-defeating aggressive politics. China has to be a part of the team first, so as to be a team leader at an appropriate time. Closer home India, with her politico-economic buoyancy and strategic strength, is not a pushover anymore as China perceives. The Doklam episode has not only clearly exposed the Chinese bluff, it has thrown light on India's political will and military capabilities to neutralise such coercive attempts. China cannot ignore India. Their economic agenda would be severely impacted as India dominates Chinese logistics network both on western as well as southern flanks. Therefore, unless India is on board, Chinese outreach to rest of the world would always suffer from insecurity syndrome. Moreover, commissioning of Chabahar port as an alternate safer and economical route for Eurasian countries and CARs has potential to make a dent in the viability of CPEC scheme. Therefore, it would be most sensible for China to come around the Indian point of view if they want to ensure the success of CPEC, their biggest political investment in recent times. Hence, there is a need to revisit the strategic priorities based on professional logic and rationale instead of typical Chinese egoist emotional hype in their political forays. A pragmatic solution lies in the recognition of the legitimacy of J&K as an integral part of India, as agreed by the Maharaja. It would be in Chinese interests to persuade Pakistan to accept the correct legal position of J&K. A reconciliation between China and India will reduce Chinese security concerns over land as well as in the Indian Ocean, a big strategic take away which China desperately needs. It would resolve most of the contentious political issues, restricting peace and prosperity in the region. Such a statesmanship on part of China would catapult her on a high moral pedestal and set precedence for others to follow. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: China needs to reconcile with India to be a superpower

In a rare visit, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval quietly travelled to Bhutan earlier this month where they held extensive talks with the Bhutanese leadership on key strategic issues including the situation in Doklam, government sources said.

The visit came after reports from intelligence agencies that soldiers from China&#39;s People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) were seen patrolling areas which are under Bhutan&#39;s control.

According to intelligence agencies, the Chinese Army has been holding intrusive patrolling in areas near Doklam like Lhariong, Sarithang, Sinchulumpa and Pangka La; the PLA has also been conducting fighter and helicopter reconnaissance sorties over the areas.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-doklam-emerging-as-a-flash-point-between-china-and-india-17553" target="_blank">Why Doklam is emerging as a flashpoint between India and China</a>

Despite the onset of winters, the PLA was continuing with force consolidation in western sector, the intelligence agencies said. Apart from the field defences constructed north of Doklam, the PLA has also erected around 25 small to medium size tents alongside open communication trenches in the area, they said.

A PLA observation post with Chinese flag was been observed in the area, the intelligence agencies said adding that Chinese soldiers continue to ferry troops and logistics supplies towards Doka La cutting past Bhutan&#39;s claim line, the Sinche La ridge.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/doklam-was-a-setback-china-keen-on-teaching-india-a-lesson-19300" target="_blank">Doklam was a setback, China keen on teaching India a lesson</a>

Sources said that during the visit by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gen-rawats-remarks-on-dokalam-unconstructive-china-29595" target="_blank">Army Chief</a> and top officials on February 6 and 7, India and Bhutan reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation with focus on China&#39;s increasing military posturing and infrastructure development around the Doklam plateau.

The visit by General Rawat, Doval and Gokhale was the first by top Indian officials from India to Bhutan after the Doklam standoff, and was kept under wraps by the Bhutanese and Indian sides.

The visit came three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of an investors&#39; summit in Guwahati. The sources said the Bhutanese side apprised the Indians of the status of boundary talks between Bhutan and China, and emphasised that Thimphu wants peace in the Doklam tri-junction.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road at the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28.

China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area.

India has argued that it has a say in the issue, especially in the backdrop of a 2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries, that have till now held 20 rounds of talks. Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. As a close friend and neighbour, Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.

The visit came after reports from intelligence agencies that soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) were seen patrolling areas which are under Bhutan's control

In a rare visit, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval quietly travelled to Bhutan earlier this month where they held extensive talks with the Bhutanese leadership on key strategic issues including the situation in Doklam, government sources said. The visit came after reports from intelligence agencies that soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) were seen patrolling areas which are under Bhutan's control. According to intelligence agencies, the Chinese Army has been holding intrusive patrolling in areas near Doklam like Lhariong, Sarithang, Sinchulumpa and Pangka La; the PLA has also been conducting fighter and helicopter reconnaissance sorties over the areas. Also read: Why Doklam is emerging as a flashpoint between India and China Despite the onset of winters, the PLA was continuing with force consolidation in western sector, the intelligence agencies said. Apart from the field defences constructed north of Doklam, the PLA has also erected around 25 small to medium size tents alongside open communication trenches in the area, they said. A PLA observation post with Chinese flag was been observed in the area, the intelligence agencies said adding that Chinese soldiers continue to ferry troops and logistics supplies towards Doka La cutting past Bhutan's claim line, the Sinche La ridge. Also read: Doklam was a setback, China keen on teaching India a lesson Sources said that during the visit by the Army Chief and top officials on February 6 and 7, India and Bhutan reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation with focus on China's increasing military posturing and infrastructure development around the Doklam plateau. The visit by General Rawat, Doval and Gokhale was the first by top Indian officials from India to Bhutan after the Doklam standoff, and was kept under wraps by the Bhutanese and Indian sides. The visit came three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of an investors' summit in Guwahati. The sources said the Bhutanese side apprised the Indians of the status of boundary talks between Bhutan and China, and emphasised that Thimphu wants peace in the Doklam tri-junction. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road at the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. India has argued that it has a say in the issue, especially in the backdrop of a 2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries, that have till now held 20 rounds of talks. Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. As a close friend and neighbour, Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.

After Doklam standoff, Army Chief, NSA and Foreign Secretary secretly visited Bhutan. Here's why

The story of China starts with economies of scale offered by the country to the western industrial world so that they could outsource their manufacturing to China. With consequent exponential economic rise, came the conceit and hubris, particularly, in absence of political opposition, prompting the Chinese polity to nurture ambitions of acquiring a status of a world power.&nbsp;

While the Chinese are known for visualisation of their plans looking beyond hundreds of years, they apparently have set their eyes on world leadership role in the seemingly impractical short time span. The current Chinese leadership is obviously in hurry, prompting them to use the military to push their politico-economic agenda. As a result, they have disturbed the global geopolitical canvas, spreading negative political synergies all around.

A country like China, which is thriving on industrial production has a compulsion to seek and nurture the markets for her goods and services. In that, Chinese vulnerabilities lie in her geographical location on a distant flank with a limited communication network, energy inadequacy, and external political linkages to their manufacturing sector. Therefore, it essentially requires a secure and viable communication network for ease of logistics, cooperative approach to market competition, and mutual respect and accommodation to interests of other stakeholders. However, there is an apparent conceptual deficit as regards to all these parameters, when it comes to China.

China happens to be literally a landlocked entity with exception of the eastern flank, which opens to the high seas. Then there are a number of contentious political issues with her neighbours, primarily due to Chinese political manipulations and cultural hubris. As a result, China has to transit through circuitous and not so friendly Indo-Pacific region. Hence, they nurture deep-seated insecurities and apprehensions which have shaped Chinese political conduct. In that, they seem to have chosen to use selective coercive diplomacy and confrontationist attitude instead of cooperative accommodation to achieve their national objectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Such a political brinkmanship, however, have no place in current globalised corporate culture. Somewhere in their political psyche China continues to nurture a medieval mindset, which may turn out to be a probable cause of nemesis for their ambitions.

China has embarked upon BRI scheme to take care of their economic insecurities and increase their political influence world over. Chinese military overtures in the South China Sea and &ldquo;Strings of Pearls&rdquo; in the&nbsp;Indian Ocean are operative part of their expansionist strategy.&nbsp; China, in pursuit of their economic colonisation, intends investing in the improvement of logistics infrastructure as well as establish industrial and power corridors in impoverished countries of Chinese interests.&nbsp;

On the Western flank, the CPEC scheme seems to be running into rough weather due to Chinese insensitivity in trespassing Indian sovereignty and security situation in Af-Pak region which happens to be the most disturbed areas as on date. Geopolitical interests coupled with the physical presence of extra-regional powers in Afghanistan have further complicated the political situation which is unlikely to be resolved in near future. Within Pakistan also, there is a political dissent in face of Chinese hegemonic tendencies. Rebellious Baluchistan and Northern Areas add to the friction areas for smooth operation of the scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On the Eastern flank, China has chosen to use military overtures in staking their claims over the South China Sea(SNS) based on unsubstantiated historical linkages. They have also refused to obey directives of international court on the law of seas at Hague. It has led to militarisation of the South China Sea with an occasional show of force and coercive military diplomacy. It surely has increased political opposition amongst the larger part of international community impinging on Chinese credibility as a responsible emerging power.&nbsp;

There have been scathing diplomatic statements targeting China from various world forums in favour of a free flow of trade in international waters. Naval exercises the Malabar and Quad consisting of US, India, Australia and Japan are part of military diplomacy to convey coercive political signals to China.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Southern flank, though much away from their mainland, Chinese expansionist pattern is reflective in the desire to come up with a &ldquo;Strings of Pearls&rdquo; in the Indian Ocean region, the latest one being reported to be on&nbsp; Pakistani coastline. In that, China has been exploiting small countries with a lure of economic goodies in return for permitting the establishment of Chinese military bases to safeguard their maritime interests. It has increased the military ante in the IOR as the region happens to be the link between two most frequented oceans for international trade and commerce.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India, with her domination of the IOR, is a matter of concern for China. They see India as an impediment to their hegemonic intent of pushing their economic agenda.&nbsp; Hence, a deep set of insecurities have shaped Sino-Indian relations wherein China sees India as a rival who needs to be given a punch and not a handshake.

Consequently, China has been indulging in military overtures against their regional rivals so to make them submit to their political dictates. The Doklam standoff followed by an increase in military incursions along the Sino-Indian LAC is part of their high handedness and coercive diplomacy. They keep issuing similar coercive warnings to countries in regions of the South China Sea and South East Asia.&nbsp; China, obviously, wants to keep the water warm but not boiling through such a politico-military psychological warfare.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Overall the strategic audit is indicative of Chinese failure in &ldquo;team building&rdquo; due to their self-centered exclusivity, insensitive conduct and absence of political social grace expected of a responsible leader in making. Therefore, the&nbsp; Chinese vision does not seem to be in sync with appropriate strategic outlook. The rhythm of their ongoing political tango is not conducive towards achieving their aspirations. Hence, China needs an urgent mid-course correction.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China seems to have chosen to use coercive diplomacy and confrontationist attitude instead of cooperative accommodation to achieve their national objectives.

The story of China starts with economies of scale offered by the country to the western industrial world so that they could outsource their manufacturing to China. With consequent exponential economic rise, came the conceit and hubris, particularly, in absence of political opposition, prompting the Chinese polity to nurture ambitions of acquiring a status of a world power. While the Chinese are known for visualisation of their plans looking beyond hundreds of years, they apparently have set their eyes on world leadership role in the seemingly impractical short time span. The current Chinese leadership is obviously in hurry, prompting them to use the military to push their politico-economic agenda. As a result, they have disturbed the global geopolitical canvas, spreading negative political synergies all around. A country like China, which is thriving on industrial production has a compulsion to seek and nurture the markets for her goods and services. In that, Chinese vulnerabilities lie in her geographical location on a distant flank with a limited communication network, energy inadequacy, and external political linkages to their manufacturing sector. Therefore, it essentially requires a secure and viable communication network for ease of logistics, cooperative approach to market competition, and mutual respect and accommodation to interests of other stakeholders. However, there is an apparent conceptual deficit as regards to all these parameters, when it comes to China. China happens to be literally a landlocked entity with exception of the eastern flank, which opens to the high seas. Then there are a number of contentious political issues with her neighbours, primarily due to Chinese political manipulations and cultural hubris. As a result, China has to transit through circuitous and not so friendly Indo-Pacific region. Hence, they nurture deep-seated insecurities and apprehensions which have shaped Chinese political conduct. In that, they seem to have chosen to use selective coercive diplomacy and confrontationist attitude instead of cooperative accommodation to achieve their national objectives. Such a political brinkmanship, however, have no place in current globalised corporate culture. Somewhere in their political psyche China continues to nurture a medieval mindset, which may turn out to be a probable cause of nemesis for their ambitions. China has embarked upon BRI scheme to take care of their economic insecurities and increase their political influence world over. Chinese military overtures in the South China Sea and “Strings of Pearls” in the Indian Ocean are operative part of their expansionist strategy. China, in pursuit of their economic colonisation, intends investing in the improvement of logistics infrastructure as well as establish industrial and power corridors in impoverished countries of Chinese interests. On the Western flank, the CPEC scheme seems to be running into rough weather due to Chinese insensitivity in trespassing Indian sovereignty and security situation in Af-Pak region which happens to be the most disturbed areas as on date. Geopolitical interests coupled with the physical presence of extra-regional powers in Afghanistan have further complicated the political situation which is unlikely to be resolved in near future. Within Pakistan also, there is a political dissent in face of Chinese hegemonic tendencies. Rebellious Baluchistan and Northern Areas add to the friction areas for smooth operation of the scheme. On the Eastern flank, China has chosen to use military overtures in staking their claims over the South China Sea(SNS) based on unsubstantiated historical linkages. They have also refused to obey directives of international court on the law of seas at Hague. It has led to militarisation of the South China Sea with an occasional show of force and coercive military diplomacy. It surely has increased political opposition amongst the larger part of international community impinging on Chinese credibility as a responsible emerging power. There have been scathing diplomatic statements targeting China from various world forums in favour of a free flow of trade in international waters. Naval exercises the Malabar and Quad consisting of US, India, Australia and Japan are part of military diplomacy to convey coercive political signals to China. On Southern flank, though much away from their mainland, Chinese expansionist pattern is reflective in the desire to come up with a “Strings of Pearls” in the Indian Ocean region, the latest one being reported to be on Pakistani coastline. In that, China has been exploiting small countries with a lure of economic goodies in return for permitting the establishment of Chinese military bases to safeguard their maritime interests. It has increased the military ante in the IOR as the region happens to be the link between two most frequented oceans for international trade and commerce. India, with her domination of the IOR, is a matter of concern for China. They see India as an impediment to their hegemonic intent of pushing their economic agenda. Hence, a deep set of insecurities have shaped Sino-Indian relations wherein China sees India as a rival who needs to be given a punch and not a handshake. Consequently, China has been indulging in military overtures against their regional rivals so to make them submit to their political dictates. The Doklam standoff followed by an increase in military incursions along the Sino-Indian LAC is part of their high handedness and coercive diplomacy. They keep issuing similar coercive warnings to countries in regions of the South China Sea and South East Asia. China, obviously, wants to keep the water warm but not boiling through such a politico-military psychological warfare. Overall the strategic audit is indicative of Chinese failure in “team building” due to their self-centered exclusivity, insensitive conduct and absence of political social grace expected of a responsible leader in making. Therefore, the Chinese vision does not seem to be in sync with appropriate strategic outlook. The rhythm of their ongoing political tango is not conducive towards achieving their aspirations. Hence, China needs an urgent mid-course correction. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: China's military adventures are not in sync with its political ambition

China&#39;s<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-china-justifies-building-infrastructure-in-doklam-india-says-keeping-a-close-vigil-30065"> fighter planes and helicopters</a> have been undertaking reconnaissance sorties over north Doklam, intelligence report said.

The Chinese <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-begin-border-talks-first-after-doklam-standoff-27433">Air Force reconnaissance effort </a>is being backed up by the People&#39;s Liberation Army(PLA) on the ground, intelligence sources say.

According to intelligence sources, the Chinese Army has been carrying out &quot;intrusive patrolling&quot; near Doklam in the areas held by the Royal Bhutan Army at Lhariong, Sarithang, Sinchulumpa and Pangka La &nbsp;PLA. &nbsp;

Despite the onset of winter, the Chinese Army is continuing with &quot;force consolidation&quot; in the western sector, intelligence sources said.

The Chinese army has constructed &quot;field defences&quot; in north Doklam and has put around 25 &quot;small to medium-sized tents&quot; along open communication trenches in the Doka La Spur area, intelligence sources noted.

An Army observation post with a China flag has also been spotted in the area.

Chinese army convoy continue to ferry troops and logistics supplies towards Doka La Spur via Sinche La, intelligence sources confirm.

Reporter: Manish Shukla

The Chinese Air Force reconnaissance effort is being backed up by the People's Liberation Army

China's fighter planes and helicopters have been undertaking reconnaissance sorties over north Doklam, intelligence report said. The Chinese Air Force reconnaissance effort is being backed up by the People's Liberation Army(PLA) on the ground, intelligence sources say. According to intelligence sources, the Chinese Army has been carrying out "intrusive patrolling" near Doklam in the areas held by the Royal Bhutan Army at Lhariong, Sarithang, Sinchulumpa and Pangka La PLA. Despite the onset of winter, the Chinese Army is continuing with "force consolidation" in the western sector, intelligence sources said. The Chinese army has constructed "field defences" in north Doklam and has put around 25 "small to medium-sized tents" along open communication trenches in the Doka La Spur area, intelligence sources noted. An Army observation post with a China flag has also been spotted in the area. Chinese army convoy continue to ferry troops and logistics supplies towards Doka La Spur via Sinche La, intelligence sources confirm. Reporter: Manish Shukla

Chinese fighter planes, helicopters conducting reconnaissance over north Doklam: Intelligence sources

The sprawling lawns outside the Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal monument, will host a week-long &#39;Vedic Yagya&#39; in March to blunt &quot;conspiracies&quot; hatched by the country&#39;s &quot;inimical forces&quot;, BJP MP Maheish Girri said today.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is among the political bigwigs invited to the event, Girri, who is organising the seemingly extravagant affair, involving over 1,100 priests, between March 18-25, said.

A number of Delhi-based businessmen have come forward to fund the Hindu ritual, aimed at &quot;worship of the Vedas and the nation in the same breath&quot;.

The prime minister unfurls the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 every year, a tradition started by the nation&#39;s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947.

Unveiling the blueprint of the &#39;Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya&#39; in a press conference here, Girri said &quot;soil and water&quot; from Doklam, where troops of India and China were locked in a standoff, and Poonch, located near the Line of Control (LoC), will be used in raising the structures in the event.

&quot;There are external and internal forces who are attempting to harm the country&#39;s interests. We are organising the yagya (ceremonial fire) following our ancient traditions to thwart such attempts and to take a pledge to create a &#39;New India&#39;,&quot; Girri&nbsp;said.

There will be a total of 108 ceremonial fires where oblation will be offered to the God by around 1,100 priests, Girri said, adding that &#39;ghee&#39; (clarified butter) will be sourced from people across the country through &#39;rath yatras&#39;.

&quot;We appeal to each and everyone to offer at least one spoonful of &#39;ghee&#39;,&quot; he said.

A temporary Vedic village will be set up in the area, where the annual Ram Lila is held every year, for this purpose.

&quot;Noted singers Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher will perform at the event and are also coming up with a theme song. It will be attended by prominent political leaders, religious gurus, bureaucrats, Bollywood celebrities and corporate honchos,&quot; the East Delhi MP said, refusing to divulge the names of those who have confirmed their participation.

&quot;Eight vows, to rid the nation of vices like casteism, communalism, among others, will also be taken by the participants,&quot; he said.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is among the political bigwigs invited to the event

The sprawling lawns outside the Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal monument, will host a week-long 'Vedic Yagya' in March to blunt "conspiracies" hatched by the country's "inimical forces", BJP MP Maheish Girri said today. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is among the political bigwigs invited to the event, Girri, who is organising the seemingly extravagant affair, involving over 1,100 priests, between March 18-25, said. A number of Delhi-based businessmen have come forward to fund the Hindu ritual, aimed at "worship of the Vedas and the nation in the same breath". The prime minister unfurls the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 every year, a tradition started by the nation's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947. Unveiling the blueprint of the 'Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya' in a press conference here, Girri said "soil and water" from Doklam, where troops of India and China were locked in a standoff, and Poonch, located near the Line of Control (LoC), will be used in raising the structures in the event. "There are external and internal forces who are attempting to harm the country's interests. We are organising the yagya (ceremonial fire) following our ancient traditions to thwart such attempts and to take a pledge to create a 'New India'," Girri said. There will be a total of 108 ceremonial fires where oblation will be offered to the God by around 1,100 priests, Girri said, adding that 'ghee' (clarified butter) will be sourced from people across the country through 'rath yatras'. "We appeal to each and everyone to offer at least one spoonful of 'ghee'," he said. A temporary Vedic village will be set up in the area, where the annual Ram Lila is held every year, for this purpose. "Noted singers Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher will perform at the event and are also coming up with a theme song. It will be attended by prominent political leaders, religious gurus, bureaucrats, Bollywood celebrities and corporate honchos," the East Delhi MP said, refusing to divulge the names of those who have confirmed their participation. "Eight vows, to rid the nation of vices like casteism, communalism, among others, will also be taken by the participants," he said.

'Vedic yagya' outside Red Fort with soil, water from Doklam & Poonch

China&#39;s state-run Global Times today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-japan-intimacy-poses-no-real-threat-to-china-says-chinas-state-run-daily-global-times-20211">said India&#39;s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant</a> does not compare in weaponry and technology with China&#39;s first home-made carrier which will enter service in 2020.

China had inaugurated its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-can-play-constructive-role-in-resolving-kashmir-issue-says-state-run-global-times-21306">aircraft carrier in April last year</a> amid rising tension in the Korean peninsula. China hasn&#39;t revealed much about its carrier which is a &quot;state secret&quot;.

The government had said earlier that the new carrier&rsquo;s design draws on experiences from the country&rsquo;s first carrier - the Liaoning - bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China.

China&#39;s military expert Song Zhongping told the Chinese daily that, &quot;India&#39;s home-made aircraft carrier cannot compare with China as it has taken a leap in construction technology and other relevant core technologies,&quot; adding,&quot;India still relies on other countries&#39; technology in building its aircraft carrier.&quot;

Another expert, Li Jie told the right-leaning Chinese daily that,&quot;INS Vikrant is more likely an assemblage of foreign technologies made by India.&quot;

&quot;The aircraft carrier&#39;s design is from France and Italy, its power system from the US and the weapon system is also from overseas,&quot; Li Jie declared.

Song Zhongping said as far as combat capability was concerned China&#39;s first &quot;home-made aircraft carrier&quot; carried the &quot;Shenyang J-15, a large antisubmarine helicopter&quot;, which could also be used for early warning and search and rescue operations. &nbsp;

&quot;Its defence system was also developed domestically,&quot; Song added.

&quot;China&#39;s second home-made carrier may adopt an electromagnetic catapult system, and the domestically developed radar system will be more accurate and far-reaching. The destroyers and frigates which form the aircraft carrier fleet would also be stronger,&quot; Li said.

Li also said it was meaningless to merely compare the aircraft carriers of China and India as the competitiveness&nbsp;of the navies in the future lies in comprehensive combat capabilities and cooperation of different forces.

The Chinese government had said that the new carrier’s design draws on experiences from the country’s first carrier - the Liaoning.

China's state-run Global Times today said India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant does not compare in weaponry and technology with China's first home-made carrier which will enter service in 2020. China had inaugurated its aircraft carrier in April last year amid rising tension in the Korean peninsula. China hasn't revealed much about its carrier which is a "state secret". The government had said earlier that the new carrier’s design draws on experiences from the country’s first carrier - the Liaoning - bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China. China's military expert Song Zhongping told the Chinese daily that, "India's home-made aircraft carrier cannot compare with China as it has taken a leap in construction technology and other relevant core technologies," adding,"India still relies on other countries' technology in building its aircraft carrier." Another expert, Li Jie told the right-leaning Chinese daily that,"INS Vikrant is more likely an assemblage of foreign technologies made by India." "The aircraft carrier's design is from France and Italy, its power system from the US and the weapon system is also from overseas," Li Jie declared. Song Zhongping said as far as combat capability was concerned China's first "home-made aircraft carrier" carried the "Shenyang J-15, a large antisubmarine helicopter", which could also be used for early warning and search and rescue operations. "Its defence system was also developed domestically," Song added. "China's second home-made carrier may adopt an electromagnetic catapult system, and the domestically developed radar system will be more accurate and far-reaching. The destroyers and frigates which form the aircraft carrier fleet would also be stronger," Li said. Li also said it was meaningless to merely compare the aircraft carriers of China and India as the competitiveness of the navies in the future lies in comprehensive combat capabilities and cooperation of different forces.

China's aircraft carrier superior to India's INS Vikrant: Chinese experts

The Chinese military on Thursday criticised Army Chief General Bipin Rawat&#39;s recent remarks that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/status-quo-not-altered-at-doklam-india-29981" target="_blank">Doklam is a disputed territory</a>, asserting that it is very much part of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-military-asks-india-to-control-its-border-troops-27978" target="_blank">China</a>, and India should draw lessons from the 73-day standoff to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Reacting for the first time to General Rawat&#39;s comments, Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-silent-over-gen-rawats-remarks-on-pla-troop-reduction-in-dokalam-29018" target="_blank">Chinese Ministry of Defence</a>, told a media briefing that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-china-justifies-building-infrastructure-in-doklam-india-says-keeping-a-close-vigil-30065" target="_blank">Doklam is part of China</a>.

General&nbsp;Rawat earlier this month said that India needs to shift focus from its border with Pakistan to that of China and spoke of pressure being exerted by Beijing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

&quot;The People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has occupied the area in the west of Torsa nullah called northern Doklam. At the actual spot the two sides have disengaged. The tents remain. The observation posts remain. This is a territory disputed between Bhutan and China,&quot; the army chief had said on January 12 on the eve of the Army Day.

Wu said: &quot;the remarks of the Indian side also shows that the illegal crossing of the Indian border troops is clear in fact and nature&quot;.

&quot;Donglong (Doklam) is part of China,&quot; Wu said, while responding to the recent remarks of Gen Rawat that the Doklam is a disputed territory between China and Bhutan.

Wu said the Indian side should draw lessons from the incident to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped construction of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off had ended on August 28.

Referring to General Rawat&#39;s remarks that India should take the neighbouring countries along with it, Wu said: &quot;I want to emphasise that the country should be treated equally regardless of its size. 
&quot;The concept sphere of influence is demonstration of Cold War mentality. The Chinese side (is) always opposed to it,&quot; he said.

Rawat had said that countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have to be kept on board as part of a broader strategy to deal with China, and India must make &quot;wholehearted&quot; efforts to continue extending support to them.

Wu also denied reports that China plans to establish a military base or counter-terrorism base in Afghanistan.

&quot;The report on China building a military base in Afghanistan is totally groundless,&quot; he added.

General Rawat earlier this month said that India needs to shift focus from its border with Pakistan to that of China and spoke of pressure being exerted by Beijing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The Chinese military on Thursday criticised Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's recent remarks that Doklam is a disputed territory, asserting that it is very much part of China, and India should draw lessons from the 73-day standoff to avoid similar incidents in the future. Reacting for the first time to General Rawat's comments, Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence, told a media briefing that Doklam is part of China. General Rawat earlier this month said that India needs to shift focus from its border with Pakistan to that of China and spoke of pressure being exerted by Beijing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has occupied the area in the west of Torsa nullah called northern Doklam. At the actual spot the two sides have disengaged. The tents remain. The observation posts remain. This is a territory disputed between Bhutan and China," the army chief had said on January 12 on the eve of the Army Day. Wu said: "the remarks of the Indian side also shows that the illegal crossing of the Indian border troops is clear in fact and nature". "Donglong (Doklam) is part of China," Wu said, while responding to the recent remarks of Gen Rawat that the Doklam is a disputed territory between China and Bhutan. Wu said the Indian side should draw lessons from the incident to avoid similar incidents in the future. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped construction of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off had ended on August 28. Referring to General Rawat's remarks that India should take the neighbouring countries along with it, Wu said: "I want to emphasise that the country should be treated equally regardless of its size. "The concept sphere of influence is demonstration of Cold War mentality. The Chinese side (is) always opposed to it," he said. Rawat had said that countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have to be kept on board as part of a broader strategy to deal with China, and India must make "wholehearted" efforts to continue extending support to them. Wu also denied reports that China plans to establish a military base or counter-terrorism base in Afghanistan. "The report on China building a military base in Afghanistan is totally groundless," he added.

Draw lessons to avoid another Doklam: Chinese military to India

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-aadhaar-to-trade-and-commerce-heres-what-pm-modi-discussed-with-asean-leaders-30752">From Aadhaar to trade and commerce: Here&#39;s what PM Modi discussed with ASEAN leaders</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding bilateral meetings with the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries who have gathered in New Delhi to join him in the Republic Day celebrations. This will be the biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders at the Republic Day parade that showcases India&#39;s military might and cultural diversity.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/draw-lessons-to-avoid-another-doklam-chinese-military-to-india-30756">Draw lessons to avoid another Doklam: Chinese military to India</a>

The Chinese military on Thursday criticised Army Chief General Bipin Rawat&#39;s recent remarks that Doklam is a disputed territory, asserting that it is very much part of China, and India should draw lessons from the 73-day standoff to avoid similar incidents in the future. Reacting for the first time to General Rawat&#39;s comments, Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence, told a media briefing that Doklam is part of China.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-padmaavat-releases-amid-high-security-viewers-wonder-whats-the-fuss-about-30748">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-padmaavat-releases-amid-high-security-viewers-wonder-whats-the-fuss-about-30748"> releases amid high security; viewers wonder what&#39;s the fuss about</a>

Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s Padmaavat finally opened today amid tight security and palpable tension but audiences streamed into theatres across the country to watch the film that has the nation agog. Initial reports suggested good business for the film, which has been the focal point of protests by various Rajput groups, which allege that it distorts their history and defames their queen Padmavati.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/unites-states-presidents-and-history-of-sex-scandals-30762">Unites States presidents and history of sex scandals</a>

United States president Donald Trump has been accused of a number of sexual allegations in the recent past. But, Trump was perhaps not the only leader under this loop. In 1998, Bill Clinton was accused of having a continuous affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997. However, two decades ago this week he declared that he &quot;did not have sexual relations with that woman,&quot; under oath.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-padmaavat-live-streamed-on-facebook-on-the-first-day-of-its-release-30768">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-padmaavat-live-streamed-on-facebook-on-the-first-day-of-its-release-30768"> live streamed on Facebook on the first day of its release</a>

Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s controversial Padmaavat released in theatres today amid tight security. While four states- Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh - have decided not to release the film in their states, heavy security could be seen in almost every cinema hall in cities where the film released. Most morning shows saw 40-60% occupancy and trade analysts have predicted that the long weekend ahead will see more footfall.&nbsp;

From Aadhaar to trade and commerce: Here's what PM Modi discussed with ASEAN leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding bilateral meetings with the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries who have gathered in New Delhi to join him in the Republic Day celebrations. This will be the biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders at the Republic Day parade that showcases India's military might and cultural diversity. Draw lessons to avoid another Doklam: Chinese military to India The Chinese military on Thursday criticised Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's recent remarks that Doklam is a disputed territory, asserting that it is very much part of China, and India should draw lessons from the 73-day standoff to avoid similar incidents in the future. Reacting for the first time to General Rawat's comments, Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence, told a media briefing that Doklam is part of China. Padmaavat releases amid high security; viewers wonder what's the fuss about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat finally opened today amid tight security and palpable tension but audiences streamed into theatres across the country to watch the film that has the nation agog. Initial reports suggested good business for the film, which has been the focal point of protests by various Rajput groups, which allege that it distorts their history and defames their queen Padmavati. Unites States presidents and history of sex scandals United States president Donald Trump has been accused of a number of sexual allegations in the recent past. But, Trump was perhaps not the only leader under this loop. In 1998, Bill Clinton was accused of having a continuous affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997. However, two decades ago this week he declared that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman," under oath. Padmaavat live streamed on Facebook on the first day of its release Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial Padmaavat released in theatres today amid tight security. While four states- Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh - have decided not to release the film in their states, heavy security could be seen in almost every cinema hall in cities where the film released. Most morning shows saw 40-60% occupancy and trade analysts have predicted that the long weekend ahead will see more footfall.

WION Evening News Brief, January 25, 2018

China&#39;s right-leaning daily newspaper Global Times in its editorial <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-objects-to-china-renaming-six-places-in-arunachal-pradesh-14724">said India has speeded up development</a> of infrastructure along the border with China, asserting that China has &quot;plenty of chips&quot; with which to bargain with India, through political, military and economic means.&nbsp;

In its op-ed page article, the daily mainly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nobody-should-have-any-problem-with-dalai-lamas-arunachal-pradesh-visit-india-says-14172">touched on India&#39;s ongoing dispute</a> with China over Arunachal Pradesh, which is called &quot;South Tibet&quot; in China. After reports surfaced&nbsp; of Arun Jaitley recently proposing the construction of a new tunnel, the newspaper said, &quot;if India seeks to break the status quo in the disputed region, relevant countermeasures by China should be in place.&quot;

&quot;The development of infrastructure can only play a limited role in improving the military&#39;s combat capability, but it is more of a gesture by the Indian government to strengthen control in the region,&quot; the newspaper said, adding that despite backward &quot;connectivity infrastructure in the disputed China-India border areas, made-in-China products are quite popular&quot; in the local markets in northeast India.

&quot;Most of the goods are imported by India from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, which serve as transit points for made-in-China goods,&quot; it said.

China had earlier announced that had &quot;standardised&quot; official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh and termed the provocative move as &quot;legitimate&quot;, India later opposed the move.

&quot;China can strengthen economic cooperation with the three countries to put pressure on India regarding issues related to the disputed region,&quot; the state-run newspaper said.

In its op-ed page article, the daily mainly touched on India's ongoing dispute with China over Arunachal Pradesh

China's right-leaning daily newspaper Global Times in its editorial said India has speeded up development of infrastructure along the border with China, asserting that China has "plenty of chips" with which to bargain with India, through political, military and economic means. In its op-ed page article, the daily mainly touched on India's ongoing dispute with China over Arunachal Pradesh, which is called "South Tibet" in China. After reports surfaced of Arun Jaitley recently proposing the construction of a new tunnel, the newspaper said, "if India seeks to break the status quo in the disputed region, relevant countermeasures by China should be in place." "The development of infrastructure can only play a limited role in improving the military's combat capability, but it is more of a gesture by the Indian government to strengthen control in the region," the newspaper said, adding that despite backward "connectivity infrastructure in the disputed China-India border areas, made-in-China products are quite popular" in the local markets in northeast India. "Most of the goods are imported by India from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, which serve as transit points for made-in-China goods," it said. China had earlier announced that had "standardised" official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh and termed the provocative move as "legitimate", India later opposed the move. "China can strengthen economic cooperation with the three countries to put pressure on India regarding issues related to the disputed region," the state-run newspaper said.

If India breaks status quo on Arunachal, countermeasures by China should be in place: China Daily

China always values the good neighbourliness and friendship with India, but it is also firm on upholding its &quot;sovereign rights&quot;, interests and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Beijing handled the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-downplays-disengagement-of-troops-from-doklam-warns-india-to-draw-lesson-19600" target="_blank">Dokalam standoff </a>with &quot;restraint&quot;, showing the &quot;emphasis&quot; it places on ties with New Delhi, he said.

Touching on China&#39;s relations with major countries and its diplomatic initiatives last year, Yi, in a lengthy article in the Chinese International Studies journal, dwelt about Sino-India ties, stating that Beijing&#39;s diplomatic engagement with New Delhi resulted in India withdrawing its troops and equipment from Dokalam.

The journal is published by China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank attached to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The 73-day standoff at Dokalam over which Bhutan also has counterclaims began in June last year when Indian troops objected to Chinese army building a road close to India&#39;s Chicken-Neck Corridor, a narrow corridor connecting northeastern states.

The standoff ended on August 28 after Chinese troops agreed to stop building the road following which both the sides agreed on the &quot;expeditious disengagement&quot; of personnel at Dokalam, according to the External Affairs Ministry.

Yi said China always values the good neighbourliness and friendship with India as &quot;we are each other&#39;s big neighbours and ancient civilisations&quot;.

In the meantime, China is also firm in upholding its sovereign rights and interests and territorial integrity, he said.

&quot;We handled the Indian border troops trespass into China&#39;s Dong Long (Dokalam) area in our national interest, on just grounds and with restraint. Through diplomatic means, we engaged with the Indian side and it withdrew its equipment and personnel.

&quot;This demonstrates not only the value and emphasis we put on relations with India but also our sincerity and sense of responsibility in maintaining regional peace and stability,&quot; the foreign minister said.

&quot;We believe as we continue to engage in in-depth strategic communication and promptly dispel strategic misgivings, the strategic value of China-India cooperation will speak for itself and there will be a prospect of &#39;the Dragon and Elephant dancing together&#39; and 1+1=11 effect as expected by the leaders,&quot; Yi said.

On Chinese diplomacy in general, he said China will continue to break new ground in pursuing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

&quot;We will take a longer and broader perspective, and be even more open-minded and resourceful in our diplomacy. We will give more consideration to the overall interests of the world and humanity, and work in a proactive manner,&quot; he said.

China will firmly uphold the existing international system with the UN at the core, and protect and expand the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, he said.

&quot;We will continue to act as a responsible major country to contribute to world peace, promote global development, and uphold the international order,&quot; Yi added.

Chinese Foreign Minister dwelt about Sino-India ties, stating that Beijing's diplomatic engagement with New Delhi resulted in India withdrawing its troops and equipment from Dokalam.

China always values the good neighbourliness and friendship with India, but it is also firm on upholding its "sovereign rights", interests and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. Beijing handled the Dokalam standoff with "restraint", showing the "emphasis" it places on ties with New Delhi, he said. Touching on China's relations with major countries and its diplomatic initiatives last year, Yi, in a lengthy article in the Chinese International Studies journal, dwelt about Sino-India ties, stating that Beijing's diplomatic engagement with New Delhi resulted in India withdrawing its troops and equipment from Dokalam. The journal is published by China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank attached to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The 73-day standoff at Dokalam over which Bhutan also has counterclaims began in June last year when Indian troops objected to Chinese army building a road close to India's Chicken-Neck Corridor, a narrow corridor connecting northeastern states. The standoff ended on August 28 after Chinese troops agreed to stop building the road following which both the sides agreed on the "expeditious disengagement" of personnel at Dokalam, according to the External Affairs Ministry. Yi said China always values the good neighbourliness and friendship with India as "we are each other's big neighbours and ancient civilisations". In the meantime, China is also firm in upholding its sovereign rights and interests and territorial integrity, he said. "We handled the Indian border troops trespass into China's Dong Long (Dokalam) area in our national interest, on just grounds and with restraint. Through diplomatic means, we engaged with the Indian side and it withdrew its equipment and personnel. "This demonstrates not only the value and emphasis we put on relations with India but also our sincerity and sense of responsibility in maintaining regional peace and stability," the foreign minister said. "We believe as we continue to engage in in-depth strategic communication and promptly dispel strategic misgivings, the strategic value of China-India cooperation will speak for itself and there will be a prospect of 'the Dragon and Elephant dancing together' and 1+1=11 effect as expected by the leaders," Yi said. On Chinese diplomacy in general, he said China will continue to break new ground in pursuing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. "We will take a longer and broader perspective, and be even more open-minded and resourceful in our diplomacy. We will give more consideration to the overall interests of the world and humanity, and work in a proactive manner," he said. China will firmly uphold the existing international system with the UN at the core, and protect and expand the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, he said. "We will continue to act as a responsible major country to contribute to world peace, promote global development, and uphold the international order," Yi added.

China values India ties but firm on 'sovereign rights': Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

In an interview with China&#39;s state-run daily Global Times, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/free-balochistan-movement-protest-in-london-against-cpec-human-rights-violations-by-pakistan-31035">India&#39;s newly-appointed ambassador to China</a> Gautam Bambawale said people in India do not have an anti-China mentality while asserting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) &quot;violates&quot; India&#39;s territorial integrity.

Bambawale said India and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cpec-halted-funds-chinas-veiled-support-to-pakistan-army-26562">China have common positions</a> on several international and global issues, including climate change. The ambassador, however, was quick to point out that post-Doklam, India and China need to talk to each other and &quot;converse with each other much more than in the past.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&quot;The more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems,&quot; the ambassador said on the contentious CPEC row, while adding that on vast majority issues, the two sides are already &quot;working together&quot;.

&quot;This should be done at many different levels, including at the leadership level, the official level, and the people-to-people level,&quot; the Indian ambassador said on the Doklam issue.

&quot;With enhanced trust and understanding will come a stronger partnership between India and China,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;we are not rivals.&quot;

Reacting to the Indian ambassador&#39;s statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: &quot;China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests.&quot;

&quot;This best serves the interests of the two countries,&quot; &nbsp;Chunying added.

&quot;We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution,&quot; she said.

&quot;CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side,&quot; the foreign ministry spokesman said.

On the border issue, the Indian ambassador said it was important not to change the &quot;status quo&quot; and both sides needed to be clear about it.

&quot;Our interaction must be based on equality and mutual benefit,&quot; Bambawale added.

&quot;We must continue to work in tandem in our counter-terrorism efforts,&quot; he said, adding that, &quot;I would even suggest that we need to expand our cooperation in counter-terrorism.&quot;

&quot;Both countries are currently focused inward on ensuring their own economic development and social progress,&quot; he said. &quot;China is further down this road than India,&quot; the ambassador felt.

On the border issue, the ambassador said it was important not change the "status quo" and both sides needed to be clear about it.

In an interview with China's state-run daily Global Times, India's newly-appointed ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said people in India do not have an anti-China mentality while asserting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) "violates" India's territorial integrity. Bambawale said India and China have common positions on several international and global issues, including climate change. The ambassador, however, was quick to point out that post-Doklam, India and China need to talk to each other and "converse with each other much more than in the past." "The more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems," the ambassador said on the contentious CPEC row, while adding that on vast majority issues, the two sides are already "working together". "This should be done at many different levels, including at the leadership level, the official level, and the people-to-people level," the Indian ambassador said on the Doklam issue. "With enhanced trust and understanding will come a stronger partnership between India and China," he said, adding, "we are not rivals." Reacting to the Indian ambassador's statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests." "This best serves the interests of the two countries," Chunying added. "We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution," she said. "CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side," the foreign ministry spokesman said. On the border issue, the Indian ambassador said it was important not to change the "status quo" and both sides needed to be clear about it. "Our interaction must be based on equality and mutual benefit," Bambawale added. "We must continue to work in tandem in our counter-terrorism efforts," he said, adding that, "I would even suggest that we need to expand our cooperation in counter-terrorism." "Both countries are currently focused inward on ensuring their own economic development and social progress," he said. "China is further down this road than India," the ambassador felt.

Ready to work with India on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, says China

China on Friday justified its massive construction activities in the Doklam area, describing it as &quot;legitimate&quot; and aimed at improving the lives of its troops and the people living on its own territory.

China&#39;s reaction came amid reports that it was building a huge military complex close to the site of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-soldiers-in-doklam-but-fewer-in-number-army-chief-general-rawat-29870">Dokalam stand-off</a> with India.

&quot;China&#39;s position on the Donglong (what China calls Doklam) area is quite clear. Donglong always belonged to China and always under China&#39;s effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard,&quot; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, asserting Chinese sovereignty over the area which is also claimed by Bhutan.

&quot;China is exercising its sovereignty in its own territory. It&#39;s legitimate and justified. Just as China will not make comments about Indian construction of infrastructure on India&#39;s territory, we hope other countries will not make comment on China&#39;s construction of infrastructure on its territory,&quot; Lu added.

India, meanwhile, said it is keeping a close vigil on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/status-quo-not-altered-at-doklam-india-29981">latest developments</a>. &quot;We are keeping a close vigil,&quot; Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Asked about reports citing satellite imagery of a Chinese military complex in the area, Lu said: &quot;I have also noted the relevant report. I don&#39;t know who offered such kind of photos.&quot;

But at same time he said he did not have detailed information on it.

Asked about concerns that China is preparing for a second standoff at Dokalam area, he said Indian troops&#39; intervention to stop building a key road close the Chicken Neck Corridor of India, has put the bilateral ties to severe test.

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before &quot;disengaging&quot; on August 28.

(With inputs from agencies)

China's reaction came amid reports that it was building a huge military complex close to the site of the Dokalam stand-off with India.

China on Friday justified its massive construction activities in the Doklam area, describing it as "legitimate" and aimed at improving the lives of its troops and the people living on its own territory. China's reaction came amid reports that it was building a huge military complex close to the site of the Dokalam stand-off with India. "China's position on the Donglong (what China calls Doklam) area is quite clear. Donglong always belonged to China and always under China's effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, asserting Chinese sovereignty over the area which is also claimed by Bhutan. "China is exercising its sovereignty in its own territory. It's legitimate and justified. Just as China will not make comments about Indian construction of infrastructure on India's territory, we hope other countries will not make comment on China's construction of infrastructure on its territory," Lu added. India, meanwhile, said it is keeping a close vigil on latest developments. "We are keeping a close vigil," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Asked about reports citing satellite imagery of a Chinese military complex in the area, Lu said: "I have also noted the relevant report. I don't know who offered such kind of photos." But at same time he said he did not have detailed information on it. Asked about concerns that China is preparing for a second standoff at Dokalam area, he said Indian troops' intervention to stop building a key road close the Chicken Neck Corridor of India, has put the bilateral ties to severe test. Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before "disengaging" on August 28. (With inputs from agencies)

China 'justifies' building infrastructure in Doklam; India says keeping a close vigil

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/onedegree/rohingya-refugee-leaders-draw-up-demands-ahead-of-repatriation-30073">Rohingya refugee leaders draw up demands ahead of repatriation</a>

Rohingya leaders in a Bangladesh refugee camp have drawn up a list of demands they want Myanmar to meet before authorities begin sending back hundreds of thousands in a repatriation process expected to begin next week and last for two years.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-plans-of-a-modi-abbasi-meet-at-davos-mea-30082">No plans of a Modi-Abbasi meet at Davos: MEA</a>

There are no &quot;plans&quot; of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Davos next week, the external affairs ministry said today.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/20-aap-mlas-disqualified-over-office-of-profit-30060">Election Commission disqualifies 20 AAP MLAs for holding &#39;office of profit&#39;</a>

In a major blow to Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission is learnt to have recommended to the President the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding office of profit.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-china-justifies-building-infrastructure-in-doklam-india-says-keeping-a-close-vigil-30065">China &#39;justifies&#39; building infrastructure in Doklam; India says keeping a close vigil</a>

China on Friday justified its massive construction activities in the Doklam area, describing it as &quot;legitimate&quot; and aimed at improving the lives of its troops and the people living on its own territory.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-plea-to-cancel-cbfc-certificate-to-padmaavat-30051">Supreme Court rejects plea to cancel CBFC certificate to &#39;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-plea-to-cancel-cbfc-certificate-to-padmaavat-30051">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-plea-to-cancel-cbfc-certificate-to-padmaavat-30051">&#39;</a>

The Supreme Court today rejected a plea seeking an urgent hearing on a fresh PIL that sought cancellation of Censor Board&#39;s certificate granted to controversial Bollywood movie &#39;Padmaavat&#39;.

Rohingya refugee leaders draw up demands ahead of repatriation Rohingya leaders in a Bangladesh refugee camp have drawn up a list of demands they want Myanmar to meet before authorities begin sending back hundreds of thousands in a repatriation process expected to begin next week and last for two years. No plans of a Modi-Abbasi meet at Davos: MEA There are no "plans" of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Davos next week, the external affairs ministry said today. Election Commission disqualifies 20 AAP MLAs for holding 'office of profit' In a major blow to Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission is learnt to have recommended to the President the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding office of profit. China 'justifies' building infrastructure in Doklam; India says keeping a close vigil China on Friday justified its massive construction activities in the Doklam area, describing it as "legitimate" and aimed at improving the lives of its troops and the people living on its own territory. Supreme Court rejects plea to cancel CBFC certificate to 'Padmaavat' The Supreme Court today rejected a plea seeking an urgent hearing on a fresh PIL that sought cancellation of Censor Board's certificate granted to controversial Bollywood movie 'Padmaavat'.

WION Evening News Brief, 19 January 2018

By testing Agni-5 on January 18, it seems, India has sent a firm message to many doubting Thomases inside and outside the country. A missile or nuclear test is conducted not only for validating technical parameters but also to send a political signal.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Regarding Agni-5, from the very beginning, it has been made clear that this particular range does not need more than 2-3 tests before the deployment because most of the technical or technological parameters were already tested in the shorter ranges of Agni.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This fifth test of Agni-5 is also the third recurring test from a canister on a road-mobile launcher. So, even this canister on a road-mobile capability has been tested as per requirements.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Quite significantly, none of the five tests have failed. Thus, the maturity of ballistic missile development technology is decisively restated. When Agni-3 had failed, many started doubting the Indian capability to build an advanced weapons system. The scientific community has given a befitting response to the sceptics.

&nbsp;

Now, the user will be confident about the capability. Agni-5 is going to build Indian nuclear deterrence robust and effective. Besides, it is also on the line of the global pattern of mobile ballistic missile development. The third successful test of a mobile Agni-5 gives the nuclear deterrence the required operational flexibility. It can address shifting targets with even a small size of ballistic missile battery.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Signalling China, it wants to assert that Chinese expansionist and aggressive policy will not go unanswered. Violating all the past agreements for maintaining the status-quo, China has once again stepped up its construction activities in the Doklam region. Media reports suggest that this time, Chinese activities are much more intense than what it did about six months back.&nbsp; Though the Indian government does not maintain that any of its nuclear-capable missiles or nuclear weapons is country-specific, it is an open secret that Agni-5 has been developed to deter China.

&nbsp;

Moreover, the missile was launched the day the Indian defence minister inaugurated the Defence Industry Development Meeting. In fact, she rightly stressed the role Indian indigenous industry had played in developing strategic weapons like nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;India has been under curbs so that it does not develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Despite the 2008 NSG exemptions or joining the Missile Technology Control Regime, these curbs continue. Still, no country is going to supply any item which may contribute to the development of&nbsp; Indian nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. All of these needs to be developed indigenously.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Now, the Indian government needs to signal to the world that it can develop other weapons systems indigenously and the world has to work with it under the Make in India programme.&nbsp;

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Signalling China, India wants to assert that Chinese expansionist and aggressive policy will not go unanswered.

By testing Agni-5 on January 18, it seems, India has sent a firm message to many doubting Thomases inside and outside the country. A missile or nuclear test is conducted not only for validating technical parameters but also to send a political signal. Regarding Agni-5, from the very beginning, it has been made clear that this particular range does not need more than 2-3 tests before the deployment because most of the technical or technological parameters were already tested in the shorter ranges of Agni. This fifth test of Agni-5 is also the third recurring test from a canister on a road-mobile launcher. So, even this canister on a road-mobile capability has been tested as per requirements. Quite significantly, none of the five tests have failed. Thus, the maturity of ballistic missile development technology is decisively restated. When Agni-3 had failed, many started doubting the Indian capability to build an advanced weapons system. The scientific community has given a befitting response to the sceptics. Now, the user will be confident about the capability. Agni-5 is going to build Indian nuclear deterrence robust and effective. Besides, it is also on the line of the global pattern of mobile ballistic missile development. The third successful test of a mobile Agni-5 gives the nuclear deterrence the required operational flexibility. It can address shifting targets with even a small size of ballistic missile battery. Signalling China, it wants to assert that Chinese expansionist and aggressive policy will not go unanswered. Violating all the past agreements for maintaining the status-quo, China has once again stepped up its construction activities in the Doklam region. Media reports suggest that this time, Chinese activities are much more intense than what it did about six months back. Though the Indian government does not maintain that any of its nuclear-capable missiles or nuclear weapons is country-specific, it is an open secret that Agni-5 has been developed to deter China. Moreover, the missile was launched the day the Indian defence minister inaugurated the Defence Industry Development Meeting. In fact, she rightly stressed the role Indian indigenous industry had played in developing strategic weapons like nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. India has been under curbs so that it does not develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Despite the 2008 NSG exemptions or joining the Missile Technology Control Regime, these curbs continue. Still, no country is going to supply any item which may contribute to the development of Indian nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. All of these needs to be developed indigenously. Now, the Indian government needs to signal to the world that it can develop other weapons systems indigenously and the world has to work with it under the Make in India programme. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Agni-5 has been developed indigenously to deter China

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that infrastructure development by China&#39;s People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Doklam Plateau is temporary in nature.

&quot;As far as Doklam is concerned PLA soldiers are there in a part of the area, although not in numbers that we saw them in initially. They have carried out some infrastructure development, which is mostly temporary in nature,&quot; General Rawat said during a Facebook interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue in response to a question on Doklam.

His remarks come in wake of recent media reports about China apparently taking control of the northern side of the Doklam Plateau.

According to media reports, China has taken some infrastructure development activities in the disputed region.However, General Rawat said Indian forces will face the PLA troops if they come again in Doklam.

&quot;While troops (PLA) may have returned and infrastructure remains, it is anybody&#39;s guess whether they would come back there, or is it because of the winters that they could not take their equipment. But we are also there, so in case they come, we will face them,&quot; he said.

The army chief said the mechanism for defusing tension between the two sides is working very well and after the Doklam standoff communication is regularly taking place between the security forces of both countries at the ground level.

&quot;I think the bonhomie between India and China has returned to what it was prior to Doklam. So, I don`t visualise very serious trouble, but then one has to be prepared for it always,&quot; he said.The 73-day Doklam stand-off came to an end on August 28 after the two sides agreed to withdraw their respective troops from the plateau and the Chinese troops stopped building a key road close to India`s corridor. The road was being built by China in an area also claimed by Bhutan.

Rawat's remarks come in wake of reports of China apparently taking control of the northern side of the Doklam Plateau

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that infrastructure development by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Doklam Plateau is temporary in nature. "As far as Doklam is concerned PLA soldiers are there in a part of the area, although not in numbers that we saw them in initially. They have carried out some infrastructure development, which is mostly temporary in nature," General Rawat said during a Facebook interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue in response to a question on Doklam. His remarks come in wake of recent media reports about China apparently taking control of the northern side of the Doklam Plateau. According to media reports, China has taken some infrastructure development activities in the disputed region.However, General Rawat said Indian forces will face the PLA troops if they come again in Doklam. "While troops (PLA) may have returned and infrastructure remains, it is anybody's guess whether they would come back there, or is it because of the winters that they could not take their equipment. But we are also there, so in case they come, we will face them," he said. The army chief said the mechanism for defusing tension between the two sides is working very well and after the Doklam standoff communication is regularly taking place between the security forces of both countries at the ground level. "I think the bonhomie between India and China has returned to what it was prior to Doklam. So, I don`t visualise very serious trouble, but then one has to be prepared for it always," he said.The 73-day Doklam stand-off came to an end on August 28 after the two sides agreed to withdraw their respective troops from the plateau and the Chinese troops stopped building a key road close to India`s corridor. The road was being built by China in an area also claimed by Bhutan.

Chinese soldiers in Doklam but fewer in number: Army Chief General Rawat

Pakistan Army is taking<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-silent-over-gen-rawats-remarks-on-pla-troop-reduction-in-dokalam-29018"> help from China to fortify its bunkers</a>&nbsp;along the international border(IB), according to an intelligence report accessed by WION.

Intelligence report points to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-winter-chinese-troops-establish-permanent-base-at-doklam-report-26416">the presence of at least 4 or 5 Chinese personnel</a> in Pakistan&#39;s post at Jannat Gul opposite Bikaner. The report said three Chinese were seen testing surveillance equipment.

It is however not the first time when Chinese engineers were seen with the Pakistan Army at the Indo-Pak border. There were two instances earlier when Chinese nationals were seen at various locations at Pakistan Army posts including Zannat Gul.

According to the intelligence report, in early November last year, Chinese nationals were seen at a Pak Army post from Bahawalpur side carrying surveillance equipment. The Chinese engineers stayed till November 25th, the report added.

With the help of the Chinese Army and their engineers, Pakistan recently completed construction of two underground bunkers sized 12x10x08 feet towards the Bahawalpur side.

The intelligence report said the thickness of new Chinese-made bunker walls was about 18 inches and they were all &quot;high impactable bunkers&quot;.

&quot;These bunkers are also designed very differently with no loopholes. Illumination is done with the help of solar lights. Overhead protection to the bunker is given by a layer of sand,&quot; the report said.

The intelligence report pointed out that these bunkers were being constructed for installation of some &quot;new equipment in the future&quot;.

The report added that the Pakistan Army finds its difficulties to carry out long strategy of &nbsp;Border Action Team (BAT) and sniper attacks by the Indian Army.

Pakistan is also surprised with the way the Indian security forces have been reacting to attacks launched by its Rangers along the Line of Control.

The report said Pakistan&#39;s Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI) is worried over Indian Army&#39;s new military stance of &quot;surgical strikes&quot; across the border aimed at targeting camps.

Also, during ceasefire violations, Pakistan forces have faced massive losses, the report added.

According to the intelligence report, in early November last year, Chinese nationals were seen at a Pak Army post from Bahalpur side carrying surveillance equipment

Pakistan Army is taking help from China to fortify its bunkers along the international border(IB), according to an intelligence report accessed by WION. Intelligence report points to the presence of at least 4 or 5 Chinese personnel in Pakistan's post at Jannat Gul opposite Bikaner. The report said three Chinese were seen testing surveillance equipment. It is however not the first time when Chinese engineers were seen with the Pakistan Army at the Indo-Pak border. There were two instances earlier when Chinese nationals were seen at various locations at Pakistan Army posts including Zannat Gul. According to the intelligence report, in early November last year, Chinese nationals were seen at a Pak Army post from Bahawalpur side carrying surveillance equipment. The Chinese engineers stayed till November 25th, the report added. With the help of the Chinese Army and their engineers, Pakistan recently completed construction of two underground bunkers sized 12x10x08 feet towards the Bahawalpur side. The intelligence report said the thickness of new Chinese-made bunker walls was about 18 inches and they were all "high impactable bunkers". "These bunkers are also designed very differently with no loopholes. Illumination is done with the help of solar lights. Overhead protection to the bunker is given by a layer of sand," the report said. The intelligence report pointed out that these bunkers were being constructed for installation of some "new equipment in the future". The report added that the Pakistan Army finds its difficulties to carry out long strategy of Border Action Team (BAT) and sniper attacks by the Indian Army. Pakistan is also surprised with the way the Indian security forces have been reacting to attacks launched by its Rangers along the Line of Control. The report said Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI) is worried over Indian Army's new military stance of "surgical strikes" across the border aimed at targeting camps. Also, during ceasefire violations, Pakistan forces have faced massive losses, the report added.

Chinese engineers helping Pakistan to fortify bunkers along international border: Intelligence Report

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