English
New Delhi, Feb 22: Former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon on Wednesday accused China of wanting to ‘split’ India and Bhutan over the Doklam standoff for political gains while asserting for the need of an integrated approach in managing the country’s borders. He also appreciated the way in which the government handled the issue.
Menon, who was NSA between 2010 and 2014 in the previous UPA rule, said,”One reason why we saw that activity in Doklam last year was not because they (China) had a clear military option or superiority but they had the political goal of splitting us from the Bhutanese.”
Notably, India and Bhutan have close ties and New Delhi has been providing military support to the country.
Speaking at a conference in the national capital, he added that China wanted to “show the Bhutanese that India could not defend their security and also to arouse Bhutanese opinion (on it). I am glad we chose to react the way we did.”
Delving into various aspects of border management, Menon said the armed forces must take the people of the border areas of North Eastern states into confidence on such issues. It is important to carry the people with you, he said. Menon had also served as India’s foreign secretary from October 2006 to August 2009.
China wanted to show the Bhutanese that India could not defend their security and also to arouse Bhutanese opinion. I am glad we chose to react the way we did: Former NSA Shivshankar Menon (21.02.18) pic.twitter.com/jWHQCSx6Nx
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2018
The conference on ‘Bridging gaps and securing borders’ in the north east was attended by the top brass of the defence forces including Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.
Admiral Lanba used the occasion to highlight that there have been frequent instances of transgression by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Situation in Doklam ‘Absolutely Fine’
The situation in Doklam is “absolutely fine” and there is no reason to worry, Army chief Bipin Rawat said while speaking at the conference in Delhi on Wednesday. His claim came amidst reports of China developing defence infrastructure near the strategically key area.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba Warns of Increasing Assertiveness of China in The Region
Speaking at the conference, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba said, “A large portion of the state borders in the North East are international borders. Despite the cartographic difference with China, peace and tranquility has been maintained along the LAC for several decades.”
“However frequent instance of transgression by the PLA across the LAC and the recent standoff at Doklam are indication of increasing assertiveness of China, as it makes rapid progress both economically and militarily,” he added while underscoring the vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor, which is a narrow stretch of land that links the northeastern states with the rest of India. It is also known as the Chicken’s Neck.
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 tri-junction by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28.
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