India worried over China’s military build up on Sino-Indian border
The Economic Times, 15 November 2011
NEW DELHI: India said on Tuesday that it was concerned about China’s expanding military capabilities and building military bases on the Sino-Indian border.
“China is expanding its military capabilities and building military infrastructure along the borders with us,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters here.
“We are aware of that, and we are concerned about that,” he said.
In the same breath, the minister said New Delhi was not too worried over Beijing’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean region.
China opened an embassy in the Maldives ahead of last week’s SAARC summit in the atoll nation.
Antony said what caused worry was Beijing building military infrastructure along its winding border with India and expanding its defence reach.
“How can you prevent any country from establishing an embassy or furthering relations with any other country?” he asked. “We are also establishing embassies and building relations with every country.”
He said India too was expanding its military capability and infrastructure on the eastern front.
“But it is not for confrontation with any country, but to defend our territory. We will strengthen the eastern sector.”
Antony sounded positive on defence relations with China, noting that Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma will hold a dialogue with his Chinese counterpart next year.
A border management mechanism between the two sides will be in place by the end of this year, he added.