India to increase troops along China border

[LETHALFORCE]

India to increase troops along China border | Reuters

India to increase troops along China border
Mon Jun 8, 2009 1:48pm IST

By Biswajyoti Das

GUWAHATI, India, June 8 (Reuters) - India will deploy thousands of additional troops and build airstrips along its remote northeastern border with China, in a sign of persisting wariness between the two countries despite growing business ties.

India and China fought a brief war over their 3,500 km (2,200 mile) Himalayan border in 1962, and both sides claim the other is occupying big but largely uninhabited chunks of their territory.

Although India and China have signed a treaty to maintain "peace and tranquility" along the disputed frontier and agreed to find a political solution to the row, talks have made little progress.

Last year, the army said Chinese soldiers had crossed the border in Arunachal Pradesh state illegally and entered their territory, urging the government to deploy more troops.

"Two army divisions comprising 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers each will be deployed along the border in Arunachal," said J.J. Singh, the governor of the remote state.

"It (deployment) was part of the planned augmentation of our capabilities to defend the country ... The increase in force strength is to meet the future national security challenge," Singh said in Itanagar, capital of Arunachal Pradesh.

Other than troops, India will add more firepower in the disputed zone with light 155mm guns, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen its defences, officials said. They will also build airstrips close to the border.

The state shares a disputed border with China more than 1,000 km (621 miles) long.

Last month, India's air force chief said the country faces a greater threat from China than Pakistan because New Delhi knows little about Beijing's combat capabilities. (Editing by Bappa Majumdar and Jerry Norton)

 

[badguy2000]

easy...unless india were to break into Tibet, I don't think sino-india war would break out..

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

We think so too... but then again, you're the one who's in Tibet illegally....

 

[Yusuf]

easy...unless india were to break into Tibet, I don't think sino-india war would break out..

The problem is your definition of Tibet, it includes Indian territory, that when you have illegal possession of Tibet that you have more or less managed to make your own despite protests from the international community.

 

[Koji]

The problem is your definition of Tibet, it includes Indian territory, that when you have illegal possession of Tibet that you have more or less managed to make your own despite protests from the international community.

Yusuf, which countries consider China to illegally possess Tibet?

 

[Yusuf]

Yusuf, which countries consider China to illegally possess Tibet?

Exactly my point earlier that you had managed to convince the rest of the world into recognizing Tibet as part of China, but then you don't want to recognize all the treaties it signed.

 

[Koji]

Exactly my point earlier that you had managed to convince the rest of the world into recognizing Tibet as part of China, but then you don't want to recognize all the treaties it signed.

I don't think China is obligated to fulfill any of those treaties signed by Tibet when it was independent. Same goes for all past colonial powers and their former colonies.

 

[Singh]

I don't think China is obligated to fulfill any of those treaties signed by Tibet when it was independent. Same goes for all past colonial powers and their former colonies.

[Uti possidetis] is a general principle, which is logically connected with the phenomenon of obtaining independence, wherever it occurs. Its obvious purpose is to prevent the independence and stability of new states being endangered by fratricidal struggles provoked by the changing of frontiers following the withdrawal of the administering power.
Uti possidetis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uti possidetis juris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Known_Unknown]

Yup, Singh is right. But China is smart. It says that Tibet was never independent (which is BS), so it couldn't sign treaties with foreign powers. That turns it into a debate about the history of Tibet rather than arguing that Uti possidetis is invalid.

 

[Singh]

India needs to upgrades its border infrastructure to check intrusions esp in Sikkim and AP border.

AP, is sparsely populated, is endowed with great resources and has tremendous hydropower potential which we must tap to ensure greater prosperity in NE region.

Making ex-Coas Gen JJ Singh as the Governor for eg, was to me a signal of the Indian intent of asserting our sovereignty over our lands and now troop increase only confirms the intent.

 

[Koji]

[Uti possidetis] is a general principle, which is logically connected with the phenomenon of obtaining independence, wherever it occurs. Its obvious purpose is to prevent the independence and stability of new states being endangered by fratricidal struggles provoked by the changing of frontiers following the withdrawal of the administering power.
Uti possidetis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uti possidetis juris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks! That was informative

 

[Yusuf]

India has to concentrate on all types of infrastructure in AP, be it military or civilian. Civilian infrastructure especially hydro power to it's full potential will benefit the entire eastern region.
For too long India has neglected that region while it's fighting insurgencies there. Economic development will make sure local population is firmly loyal to India.

 

[SATISH]

Atlast the Indian top brass are waking up and shedding their fear of the easy access of the enemy troops to the interiors of AP.

 

[nitesh]

This is old news getting peddled again this has been approved in 2007 I guess

 

[ZOOM]

Other than troops, India will add more firepower in the disputed zone with light 155mm guns, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen its defences, officials said. They will also build airstrips close to the border.

How will India going to add more firepower in disputed zone with light 155mm guns? since we yet to purchase even a single pieace of artillery in 155mm catagory from 1987. Even a Singapore based defence company which was shortlisted to purchase this light 155mm guns has been blacklisted which is among the seven defence firm which has seen a ban.

It seems to me that our government is feeding Indian masses with some of the delicious stories to exhibite how we are well prepared to take on Dragon like China. :2guns:

 

[Yusuf]

India is going to station the MKIs there. UAVs are already in service and will not take any effort to locate them there nor will helos. By 155mm guns he probably meant the good old Bofors.
The build of the the military in AP is for sure.

Infact just today the following report has come in the TOI

Chinese incursions into Indian territory peaked in 2008, with 270 "violations" being recorded in the western, middle and eastern

sectors. In 2009, they appear to have let up a little on the aggression front, with a little over 60 violations occurring thus far. Chinese violations made headlines last year, signalling a belligerence that made India jittery.

With the first batch of advanced Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets getting ready to be deployed in Tezpur and Chabua, Assam, India is slowly responding to the uncertainties of Chinese intentions, by enhancing its state of preparedness in the area. According to the former air force chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, India will deploy a full squadron of these fighter jets in the eastern sector.

Recent figures point to a sharp spike in border violations and aggressive patrolling by Chinese all along the undemarcated border with India since 2007. Aggressive patrolling by Chinese forces, particularly in the western sector, have resulted in 2,285 instances in 2008, as compared to 778 instances in 2007. Indian authorities have recorded 413 instances in 2009 so far.

The brunt of aggressive patrolling by the Chinese has been felt in Demchok, Koyul and Chushul areas in Ladakh. The western sector, i.e. Ladakh, has borne the maximum number of violations, though it's been the Chinese activity in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim areas that have attracted greater attention. India has, in response, set up forward landing bases in Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh.

Earlier this year, questioned on the repeated incursions, foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had told journalists at a function in New Delhi that he did not think these were intended to change the status quo between India and China. "I do not see the kind of changes in the pattern that would suggest that either side is determined to change the status quo or something fundamental has changed for the worse.''

But it is China's apparently declared interest in southern Tibet and Tawang in the eastern sector that is of greater concern to India, particularly since they continue to press their claim over all of Arunachl Pradesh. In 2008, just the area in Kongra La Pass (what's popularly known as Finger Point) in north Sikkim recorded six violations.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Asaphila area and Dichu/Madan Bridge were worst hit, recording violations even this year. But officials describe the area as by and large "stable". Questioned about repeated incursions by China, officials say it's a "regular" occurrence and generally downplay it. But security officials say Chinese troops became adventurous even during the recent election season in India, indulging in "aggressive patrolling" in sections of Arunachal Pradesh.

It is in response to these that India has now taken significant steps to beef up security here. Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, General JJ Singh, said on Saturday that two more army divisions will be deployed along the Sino-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh within a few years.

"It is true that within a few years, two army divisions comprising 25,000 to 30,000 personnel each will be deployed along the Arunachal border as part of planned augmentation of our capabilities to defend the country," the former army chief was quoted as saying.

"Increase of force strength is to meet future national security challenges," he added. "Enhancement of quality of weapons, fighting platforms, intelligence gathering along with increased deployment of personnel and Sukhoi combat jets in nearby Tezpur base in Assam besides construction of border roads and other infrastructure are part of the plan to develop capabilities in a phased manner within the next few years to effectively meet challenges in the eastern theatre," the governor said.

Chinese incursions into Indian territory rose sharply in 2008 - India - The Times of India

 

[Yusuf]

IAF moving Sukhoi base to northeast to thwart Chinese threat

TEZPUR (Assam): A squadron of the frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi 30- MKI would become operational in India's sensitive northeast next week, a strategic decision to move advanced assets close to the Chinese border, defence officials said Tuesday.

A defence spokesperson said four multi-role strike fighter jets would land June 15 at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Tezpur, about 185 km north of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

"Four Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets would land first and soon it would be a full squadron comprising of 18 aircraft," defence spokesperson Colonel R. Kalia said.

Capable of carrying nuclear weapons and tailor-made for Indian specifications, Su-30 MKI is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30 jointly-developed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the IAF.

"There are more plans to improve infrastructure in the northeastern region, including developing four or five airfields and advanced landing grounds, besides putting our best assets in the region," a senior IAF official said requesting not to be named.

The decision to set up a squadron of the most potent fighter jet in service with the IAF follows repeated allegations of Chinese incursions in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh in the last few years.

The IAF base at Tezpur is within striking distance from the Chinese border along Arunachal Pradesh.

According to union home ministry reports, there were about 270 'violations' by China on India's western, middle and eastern sectors in 2008, while there were 60 such incidents reported so far this year.

Beijing had in 2003 given up its territorial claim over the Indian state of Sikkim but was still holding on to its age old stand that a vast stretch of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to them.

The mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030 km (650-mile) unfenced border with China.

The India-China border along Arunachal Pradesh is marked by the McMahon Line, an imaginary border which is now known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962, with Chinese troops advancing deep into Arunachal Pradesh and inflicting heavy casualties on Indian troops.

The border dispute with China was inherited by India from British colonial rulers, who hosted a 1914 conference with the Tibetan and Chinese governments that set the border in what is now Arunachal Pradesh.

China has never recognized the 1914 boundary, known as the McMahon Line, and claims 90,000 sq km (34,750 square miles) -- nearly all -- of Arunachal Pradesh. India also accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km (14,670 square miles) in Kashmir.

"Setting up of advanced air bases and plans to increase military strength in the region is to meet future national security challenges," an army commander based at the Four Corps Headquarters at Tezpur said on customary conditions of anonymity.

IAF moving Sukhoi base to northeast to thwart Chinese threat - India - The Times of India

 

[nitesh]

How will India going to add more firepower in disputed zone with light 155mm guns? since we yet to purchase even a single pieace of artillery in 155mm catagory from 1987. Even a Singapore based defence company which was shortlisted to purchase this light 155mm guns has been blacklisted which is among the seven defence firm which has seen a ban.

It seems to me that our government is feeding Indian masses with some of the delicious stories to exhibite how we are well prepared to take on Dragon like China. :2guns:

Yes artillery is an issue but why we are not considering the induction of Pinaka and Smerch systems they are getting inducted in numbers.

 

[ZOOM]

Yes artillery is an issue but why we are not considering the induction of Pinaka and Smerch systems they are getting inducted in numbers.

There is some difference between use of Artillery and MBRL, since MBRL could be very expensive to take on approching enemy coloumn, we can effectively tackle any threat through Artillery at lowest possible cost. MBRL is not like which can use in high numbers, rather we can pound enemy with thousands of shells from the volly of artillery. Hence we cannot do the similar barrange by sending thousands of rockets. At the same time, we are talking about light 155MM, which is much more effective on uneven terrain like AP.

 

[nitesh]

There is some difference between use of Artillery and MBRL, since MBRL could be very expensive to take on approching enemy coloumn, we can effectively tackle any threat through Artillery at lowest possible cost. MBRL is not like which can use in high numbers, rather we can pound enemy with thousands of shells from the volly of artillery. Hence we cannot do the similar barrange by sending thousands of rockets. At the same time, we are talking about light 155MM, which is much more effective on uneven terrain like AP.

I agree with you on certain points ZOOM but our MBRL are not unguided ones they are linked with UAV's so we can precisely direct our fire and use them effectively in counter artillery fire. So our boys don't get pounding.