Don't overestimate the prc. They have a lot of weakness and also the india of 2013 is not the india of 1959. We havent touched tibet. Also don't underestimate the provocation the prc does on many of its neighbours. We don't need others help to defend us. But there is a lot of possibilities that include fighting and not fighting. Take the latter and work in the pressure prc feels for its image. And the calculation that is for its internal image. A Chinese intellectual will not impress himself much with what prc is doing. A Chinese intellectual is patriotic but reasonable and pragmatic. Chinese intellectuals talk to many people and interact with many people and want to be considered intellectual. If they aren't its a problem because they will blame not you and I but prc because of its policies. The prc has a lot of internal calculations. And there are certain calculations that they prioritise. World opinion about prc being aggressor and immature is not be taken lightly and it's impact on prc. Can you make fun of a Chinese person because of what prc did. Don't underestimate that.
My friend, I am the last one to over-estimate them, because most communist countries are famous for blowing things out of proportion and showing themselves as some undefeatable foe. They rely on psychological intimidation and propaganda because of the fear of exposing their weakness and thereby leading to questions for their legitimacy in power.
But I am also not at peace.
Why?
Because:
1- We border them. If trouble brews up, Sikkim will face the first flank after Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand and Arunachal.
2- We don't have half the defence fortification that Arunachal has recently acquired. And even Arunachalis are still complaining that it isn't enough to counter Chinese. So you can imagine why.
3- Government attitude towards defence is pathetic when border states are facing the heat. This year beginning, PLA entered Ladakh and threatened shepherds and this regime did NOTHING.
Also take fighting. Why not make the border militarised and build trenches and barb wire. It's a calculation we can deal with and it will be more disadvantageous to prc internally and externally.
WHETHER it is of disadvantage to them or not is not our concern.
I fully advocate fencing the LAC, but the cowardly government is too scared of the PRC's 'annoyance' because the money meant for ramping up defence has been eaten by Madam and her ilk.
So what we were supposed to have 3 years ago, we still don't have it.
Apart from the indigenous agencies' terrible delays on defence goods.
Don't think that I am talking in the air man.
There have been so many scams that we cannot rule out even this theory considering that defence contracts are very meaty.
Also I loved the Chinese pm visit few months ago. Because the incursion happened which was illogical and immature by prc side and also I saw a sea change in indian military thought suddenly. That was the prc cannot say why india considers them a threat and why india will develop its military hardware with china in mind. Our military if you have now noticed is responding look closely and even more in the last few months. They just gave the nation motivation and the region realisation that they are aggressors that was mixed opinion in the past few years.
The military is not autonomous off the civilian government which is currently headed by the most inept and corrupt government in the last 30 years since liberalization.
They cannot take on the spot decisions and have to take a friggin' order for everything.
It cost 7 precious jawans and the jolt of losing 18 sailors in the accidents of Sindhurakshak that pushed Anthony to give full clearance to retaliate. But ONLY for Pak border.
What about our border? What about the 4 border states with China? Why not full blown clearance to retaliate to incursions with counter-incursions into Chinese territory?
Mauni Baba & Safed Dhoti Associates Co. have no answer to that.
I agree the we can do with some executive leadership that is more reassuring and firm and I would say congress has failed terribly on that account.
It has ALWAYS failed to be decisive when it came to China.
After every incursion, we would ramp up defence dialogue and strategic partnership as if nothing happened and Chinese did us a favour. Instead of boycotting all meetings and freezing all dialog until CCP can either change its dubious policy towards us or if it is indeed wanting peace, to control rogue factions of PLA.
As a person from a border state, my trust in this government has completely drained. I had some respect for UPA-1 thinking that Congress has actually changed from the old, absolutist and corrupt style of the Cold War era, but nothing has changed. Instead, they have gotten worse.
But I refer to the video of the times now released today of the prc incursion and officer and soldiers dealt with beautifully. Do these incidents and the way we manage them help us - yes 100%. It makes the prc look like aggressors, immature (picture their soldiers running like its a child's contest) amateurs. If you and I have differences we can talk. Why provoke it can get messy if both are not mature. And this case thank god india is mature. But the risk is the prc is aggressors and these situations can get out of hand. But from my understanding the prc are obedient and follow direction at the low level. I read somewhere the prc is pricking us to make us over react to allow them to act aggressively and militarily. That's the question why are they doing this. Is there something they are not telling to the world. Do they have some problem they are not sharing. Be open. Hence why they are asking for a new border agreement. They are immature and aren't able to handle such things. They want to stop us...
PRC is accused of occupying Tibet with force.
Do you think they care?
They don't.
Because that is the reality.
You have the land, you have its resources in your control, image is of no consequence.
Instead, many smaller countries (not bordering ones), will be impressed and seek you for protection.
No one in the world cares about image when it comes to national interests.
US, Iran, Russia, Israel Syria, China.... you name it. Only we 'oh-divine-free-democracy' Indians care for it.
AND what does concerns for image get us? Losing 19,000 sq Km of land to China and almost three times that amount of land to Pakistan as POK.
Whatever happened to the peaceful rise of china and it being a reasonable power. Don't discount the bigger picture and also have faith in india intellectuals that work behind the scene. Yes the executive can be more firm and show more leadership. But despite that if I look closely mature and good decisions are being made by india and others are taking notice.
What you call mature, is what I and my people call cowardice.
No one is asking MOD to unleash all military on PRC for border incursions.
Simply respond proportionately with power patrols and counter-incursions into their territory.
That's all. Make them see that they are doing wrong and ensure they don't do it again.
Remember this is how we lost east Ladakh (Aksai Chin) to China: inch by inch, metre by metre incursions.
Also brother I will stand by your side. Rest assured I want you and Sikkim to be strong. Things will get better I have belief in the india and our story.
Thanks.
I have no doubt on our jawans, mate. Seven of brothers, both real and cousins, serve in the armed forces with their blood. We are warriors of the mountain and combat is in our bloodline.
But the problem is that the Army of Lions is led by stray mongrels who don't allow autonomy to react as per the situation to our soldiers. That is what shakes my confidence.
Sorry
