India concerned by China's military facilities in Myanmar

[xhw1986]

China is building a new runway and other infrastructure on Myanmar's Coco islands, only 20 kilometers from India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, the Hindi-language Dainik Bhaskar newspaper has reported, following the 17th round of talks on China-India border issues held between Chinese state councilor Yang Jiechi and Indian national security adviser Shivshankar Menon between Feb. 10-11.

The Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia said the talks were held to discuss the implementation of the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to China last year. In April 2013, about 50 People's Liberation Army soldiers were reported to be making camp in the remote region of eastern Ladakh, claimed by the Indian government as its Line of Actual Control.

China and India also reviewed recent developments in the Western Sector — Aksai Chin — of their shared border regions, and deliberated further steps for maintaining peace at the border. Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, said, "Even while we are discussing this issue of boundary framework, there was an acceptance by both sides that they discussed and agreed that the continued maintenance of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas is the cornerstone of an expanding India-China relationship."

Yang Jiechi expressed optimism that China and India can work together in an article written for the English-language Indian Express, based in New Delhi. "Looking ahead, the Chinese and Indian dreams are well within our reach. When China and India join hands and pursue peaceful, cooperative and common development, we can certainly realize our respective dreams of national renewal," Yang said.

The Dainik Bhaskar report, however, stressed that the Chinese military facilities established on the Coco islands present a potential threat to the national security of India once China decides to extend its influence into the Indian Ocean. "[China] is increasing its presence, its navy is growing and we are aware of it... We are conscious about it. We are also developing, modernizing, increasing and building our capacity," said Air Marshal PK Roy, commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Roy maintained, however, that China is still an important economic partner for India, not a threat, despite the fact that the PLA is establishing infrastructure in the region close to its border.

The English-language Assam Tribune reported that India has not raised the question of the possible presence of Paresh Baruah, leader of the United Liberation Front of Assam which seeks the independence of Assam, in Beijing.

"When special representatives discuss, they don't go by the reports in the media," Syed Akbaruddin told the Assam Tribune when asked about Paresh Baruah. "They go by actual information that is available to them from sources other than media reports. So that's the basis for the discussion." China has rejected allegations that it is harboring members of the separatist group.

Paresh has been given the death sentence in Bangladesh for stockpiling weapons in Chittagong to supply the UFLA, but his whereabouts are currently unknown.

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