Author: Rajat Pandit
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 31, 2008
Introduction: Despite Tibet Unrest, No Let-Up
In PLA's Breaches Across Length Of Indo-China Border
Chinese troops have intruded a dozen times
since January into Indian territory in the strategic Pangong Tso lake area
in eastern Ladakh as part of Beijing's continuing aggressive posture all along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Pangong Tso (Tso means lake in Ladakhi), two-thirds
of which is controlled by China as it extends from India to Tibet, and other
parts of Ladakh like Demchok and Trig Heights are, in fact, witnessing "an
enhanced level of activity'' by the People's Liberation Army, sources said.
"The sector is witnessing aggressive Chinese foot, motorised and boat
patrolling. On March 23, for instance, Chinese troops in a vehicle-mounted
patrol crossed over into our territory on Pangong Tso's southern bank and
stayed there for some time with impunity before going back,'' said a source.
Pangong Tso, at an altitude of 4,218 metres,
has become a "hot'' area since the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan,
with China even constructing a "track'' right up to the lake's southern
bank during that time.
Ladakh, of course, is just one part of the
story. China may be enmeshed in the Tibetan turmoil at the moment but there
has been simply no let up in its "aggressive patrolling'' in all three
sectors-western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim,
Arunachal).
India, in fact, recorded well over 140 intrusions
by Chinese troops across the 4,057-km LAC in 2007 alone. This included transgressions
into Sikkim in August-September, though China had earlier accepted that the
state was a part of India.
Coupled with this is the stunning build-up
of military infrastructure by China all along the LAC, especially in the Tibet
Autonomous Region, which makes it possible for it to amass a large number
of troops at the border in doublequick time.
Observers say the objective is to ramp up
pressure on India to stick to its line on "Tibet being an integral part
of China'' as well as to strengthen Chinese claims on disputed areas along
the LAC.
The government, however, continues to downplay
the Chinese intrusions in public, holding that there is no need to "press
the panic button'' as "peace and tranquillity'' prevail along the LAC.
Both foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee and
defence minister A K Antony have said the "incidents'' take place due
to "differing perceptions'' of the LAC. "Whenever there is any issue
(intrusion), it is always taken up through the appropriate channels,'' said
Antony, who is set to visit Tawang in early-April.
However, the PM's visit to Arunachal earlier
this year had led to a diplomatic row between the two countries, with China
claiming the entire state as its own territory.