Govt opens up various channels with China on transgressions

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 19: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said today that India has regularly been taking up with China the issue of transgressions by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) through various channels including diplomatic, meetings at local level and other working mechanisms.
Admitting that transgressions do occur along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Ladakh, Jaitley, however, maintained that there had been no encroachment/incursion of Indian territory by China.
In a series of replies in the Parliament on incursions by China in Ladakh and other parts of North Eastern India including Arunachal Pradesh, Jaitley said: “there is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border where India and China have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their respective perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. However, no incursion/encroachment of Indian territory by China has taken place along the India-China border”.
He added that India regularly takes up any transgression with the Chinese side through established mechanisms such as flag meetings, border personnel meetings and normal diplomatic channels like Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs etc wherein they are guided by provisions of various agreements between the two countries.
Jaitley said the Government is fully seized of security needs of the country and steps as required are taken for strengthening and optimizing the force structure to cater to the external threats envisaged along the border.
“The capability development is a dynamic process and it is the constant endeavour of the Government to keep our Defence forces at maximum level of operational preparedness at all times,” he asserted.
During past fortnight, three transgressions by Chinese PLA have been reported in Leh-one in Pangong lake, where the PLA jawans had intruded deep inside the Indian borders before retreating and two in Chumar.
Jaitley said the Government of India is aware of Chinese participating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in development projects like ports as well as in anti-piracy operations and deep sea mining.
He said: “the Government keeps a constant watch on all developments concerning the country’s national security and economic interests and takes necessary measures to safeguard them in accordance with prevailing security situation and strategic considerations”.
Asserting that the Government regularly reviews the threat perception to secure the borders and protect national interests, Jaitley said appropriate measures were taken from time to time to maintain and upgrade the country’s defence preparedness along the borders to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India.
However, he declined to disclose certain information sought in the Parliament on the ground that it will be prejudicial to security of the country.
“The areas along LAC are being kept under surveillance by regular patrolling and other aerial, optronic and electronic means,” Jaitley said.
The Defence Minister said modernization of the Armed Forces is an ongoing process done in accordance with 15 year long Term Integrated Perspective Plan, the five Year Services Capital Acquisition Plan and the Annual Acquisition Plan.
“Adequate budgetary allocations have been made by the Government for modernization of Defence forces,” he added.
A provision of Rs 75148.03 crores has been kept for modernization of Defence forces during current financial year of 2014-15, he said. During 2013-14, Rs 66850.30 crores were incurred on modernization of the forces, he added.

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