Why is India in Denial as China Pushes Into Arunachal?

[SuvarnaTeja]

I want to know, During Presidential award ceremony for abhinandand and other dead soldiers of Galvan. Why did Indian Officials replace “China” with just “enemy” but didn’t replace it for Pakistan or antakwadi.

We are not that delusional that we will name China and pick a fight with them. Even US is trying to avoid a fight with China.

 

[SIPRA]

Yes Indian media funded by foreign powers are trying to create a issue but Indian government and Indian people know the truth that Chinese are building on the Chinese side of the LAC.

You are right. China has never crossed the delimited McMohan Line, during peace times.

 

[mazeto]

Chinese 50 km inside LAC

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

Chinese 50 km inside LAC

Unfortunately Indian Military is not strong enough to confront the Chinese PLA.

 

[mazeto]

Unfortunately Indian Military is not strong enough to confront the Chinese PLA.

Maybe. But the above situation is exacerbated by the fact that in Arunachal our own army prevents us from approaching the border, forget about using the land. In most places severe restrictions are placed 40-60kms away from the LAC(Mcmahon line) and about 20 kms from LAC nobody is allowed to even approach. It's almost like our government doesn't want us to contact or observe the other side. Whereas in the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-pak border civilians can cultivate right up to the boundary and even chat each other up.
Contrast this with the Chinese putting up villages inside the McMahon line and taking our traditional land. Their hunters are coming 50-60 kms inside the LAC in summers and leaving tell tale signs. It's frustrating.

 

[GumNaam]

Since July 2017, China has been aiming to set up 628 'well-off' society villages all across Tibet border areas.
View attachment 796274

The recent controversy about China building a “well-off society village” at Longju in Arunachal Pradesh has all the elements of opening another armed front to India, already straddled with the Ladakh-Aksai Chin stand-off since last year.
However, despite interest differentials between the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman's position and that of the Chief of Defence Staff comments on territorial dispute resolution and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), respectively, there has been no response from the government.

628 Society Villages Across Tibet Border Areas
China has been stepping up its infrastructure development in areas where previously, border transgressions were reported frequently. While both troops clashed at Tuting in 1975, killing four Indian soldiers, the Samdurong Chu stand-off took years to resolve. Longju, Asaphila, Migyitun, Namka Chu, Chantze and other areas in Arunachal have witnessed frequent border transgressions since the late 1990s.

China’s Arunachal ‘Incursion’: Why India Should Look at the Bigger Picture

Recently, China upped the ante by building “defence villages” in the border areas. In 2005, ten political parameters were announced to resolve the territorial dispute between India and China. One of these parameters is that populated areas should not be disturbed. Since then, not only did China begin mentioning Arunachal Pradesh as “southern Tibet” in its documents, but also gradually began constructing settlements to reinforce its claims in the region.

By late 2020, it was announced that over 600 such villages were already constructed, with at least one Communist Party cadre, surveillance systems, telecommunications, border defence duties and other facilities for border domination. It indicates their goal of border domination.

The Villages Are Given Highest Level of Legitimacy
These are comprehensive party-state backed units with long-term consequences to regional security, economy and environment. The highest level of legitimacy was provided to such actions, with President Xi Jinping visiting Tibet (and Nyingchi, which is a few kilometres north of Arunachal Pradesh) on July 21-23; as many as 11 out of the 15 existing Politburo members of the Communist Party visited Tibet in the last few months. There is a clear political and military escalation by China on this issue.
Also Read
How Much Territory Has China ‘Grabbed’ in Arunachal Pradesh?

Large-scale Han migration and ethnic change through forced marriages with locals (reported on a large scale in Xinjiang) are expected in the near future, with massive demographic consequences in the border areas with India, all in the bid to achieve terrain and demographic advantage over India.

By doing so, China is also deliberately changing the borders and firming up its position in case of any eventual resolution of the territorial dispute with India. The 23 October passing of the Land Border Law by China’s National People’s Congress adds fuel to fire on the borders with India.

Xi's 2017 Letter to Village Herders
Soon after getting an extension at the 19th Communist Party congress in 2017, Xi wrote a letter to Yume village herders (which is 30 km north of Asaphila in Arunachal Pradesh). This came in the wake of the resolution of the Doklam crisis. In his letter to Drolkar and Yangzom on 28 October, Xi said, “Without peace in the territory, there will be no peaceful lives for millions of families. hope you will motivate more herders to set down roots in the border area like galsang flowers, and become guardians of the Chinese territory and constructors of a happy hometown.” Yangzom was later chosen by the Communist Party as a “model” at its 100th anniversary on 1 July this year.
Also Read
How China is Grabbing Arunachal Land & Why ‘Map Should Be Redrawn’

Subsequently, China built a village at Metok, bordering the Upper Subansari district in Arunachal Pradesh, where it also intends to build one of the largest hydroelectricity dams in the world across the Yarlong Zangbo river, which becomes the Brahmaputra. Metok is connected to Nyingchi by a highway that was constructed with over $300 million.
Other such “model villages” include those at Migyitun at Tsari Chu, Chayu, Lower Chayu, Yume, Cona Lepo and others. An aggressive China did not even leave smaller countries like Bhutan or Nepal and built such villages at Pangda, Sedewo, Mabjathang, Menchuma, Gyalaphug, Dermalumg and other areas in Bhutan.


Plans for Azad Kashmir, Too
A land-hungry China even disregarded its own 1961 treaty with Nepal and demolished border markers in several border areas such as at Humla, Darchula, Daulkha, Gorkha, Rasuwa and other places. According to recent reports, China is planning to set up such “well-off villages” in Azad Kashmir as well.
That China is making a concerted effort to expand is also seen in terms of the logistic networks and military build-up. The highways G219, G318, G214, G314 and others provide China with the ability to induct 12 to 15 divisions, while the 15 airfields and heliports could be used for tactical deployments and bombing missions.

Why is India’s MEA Silent on China’s Dam Project Near Arunachal?

Such party-army outposts at South Asian gates provide China with new tools to cross the Himalayan barriers, even as it pumps financial resources to create indebted nations and attempts at regime changes in the region. India then needs to not only upgrade its military capabilities, but also reach out to affected South Asian countries to oppose such hegemonic forays of China.
(Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
hequint.com/voices/opinion/why-is-india-in-denial-as-china-pushes-into-arunachal#read-more

india has a secret plan for China in 2022...

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

Maybe. But the above situation is exacerbated by the fact that in Arunachal our own army prevents us from approaching the border, forget about using the land. In most places severe restrictions are placed 40-60kms away from the LAC(Mcmahon line) and about 20 kms from LAC nobody is allowed to even approach. It's almost like our government doesn't want us to contact or observe the other side. Whereas in the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-pak border civilians can cultivate right up to the boundary and even chat each other up.
Contrast this with the Chinese putting up villages inside the McMahon line and taking our traditional land. Their hunters are coming 50-60 kms inside the LAC in summers and leaving tell tale signs. It's frustrating.

I think this is true in most border states.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1465577795183005696

 

[Dungeness]

Maybe. But the above situation is exacerbated by the fact that in Arunachal our own army prevents us from approaching the border, forget about using the land. In most places severe restrictions are placed 40-60kms away from the LAC(Mcmahon line) and about 20 kms from LAC nobody is allowed to even approach. It's almost like our government doesn't want us to contact or observe the other side. Whereas in the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-pak border civilians can cultivate right up to the boundary and even chat each other up.
Contrast this with the Chinese putting up villages inside the McMahon line and taking our traditional land. Their hunters are coming 50-60 kms inside the LAC in summers and leaving tell tale signs. It's frustrating.

Well, it makes sense IA and GoI don't want locals to observe the other side of LAC. IMO, they don't trust NE chinkis, and they don't the resource to buy you out either, so they substitude with "freedom and democracy".

As long as AFSPA is still in effect, NE locals are being kept hostage in their own land, let alone "being in control of your destiny".

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

Maybe. But the above situation is exacerbated by the fact that in Arunachal our own army prevents us from approaching the border, forget about using the land. In most places severe restrictions are placed 40-60kms away from the LAC(Mcmahon line) and about 20 kms from LAC nobody is allowed to even approach. It's almost like our government doesn't want us to contact or observe the other side. Whereas in the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-pak border civilians can cultivate right up to the boundary and even chat each other up.
Contrast this with the Chinese putting up villages inside the McMahon line and taking our traditional land. Their hunters are coming 50-60 kms inside the LAC in summers and leaving tell tale signs. It's frustrating.

I saw a video where Ladakhi people are working with Rashtriya Rifles.

Who is policing the border in your place? ITBP or BSF?

They should learn and adopt what RR is doing in Ladakh.

 

[mazeto]

I think this is true in most border

Wrong, I am not talking about " jurisdiction " of the military. In my state the military physically prevents any local ( viz owners) anywhere near the border. Whereas they themselves are not able to guard it properly. The result is the Chinese have a field day coming inside unobserved ( Where locals encountered Tibetan hunters, they were chased out. Even firing took place.)

I saw a video where Ladakhi people are working with Rashtriya Rifles.

Who is policing the border in your place? ITBP or BSF?

They should learn and adopt what RR is doing in Ladakh.

ITBP mostly, but also regular army and Arunachal scouts. The locals are recruited as guides, porters, suppliers, soldiers.
Locals say our soldiers from the plains need porters to carry even their rifles in the rough parts

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

ITBP mostly, but also regular army and Arunachal scouts. The locals are recruited as guides, porters, suppliers, soldiers.
Locals say our soldiers from the plains need porters to carry even their rifles in the rough parts

Looks like Army is getting lazy. The can't fight the Chinese but fight Indians instead.

 

[mazeto]

Well, it makes sense IA and GoI don't want locals to observe the other side of LAC. IMO, they don't trust NE chinkis, and they don't the resource to buy you out either, so they substitude with "freedom and democracy".

As long as AFSPA is still in effect, NE locals are being kept hostage in their own land, let alone "being in control of your destiny".

Partly true. Whereas they trust people on the Bangladesh and Pak border, they obviously don't trust us fully.
You are rubbing it in, but by " being in control of destiny " I was talking relative to Chinas minorities. I do feel we have more control relative to them.

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

Partly true. Whereas they trust people on the Bangladesh and Pak border, they obviously don't trust us fully.

Is this lack of trust true in all NE states?

 

[Dungeness]

Partly true. Whereas they trust people on the Bangladesh and Pak border, they obviously don't trust us fully.
You are rubbing it in, but by " being in control of destiny " I was talking relative to Chinas minorities. I do feel we have more control relative to them.

Can you elaborate how you have more control while living under the shadow of AFSPA? Like 13 laborers guned down in Nagaland?

 

[siegecrossbow]

Since July 2017, China has been aiming to set up 628 'well-off' society villages all across Tibet border areas.
View attachment 796274

The recent controversy about China building a “well-off society village” at Longju in Arunachal Pradesh has all the elements of opening another armed front to India, already straddled with the Ladakh-Aksai Chin stand-off since last year.
However, despite interest differentials between the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman's position and that of the Chief of Defence Staff comments on territorial dispute resolution and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), respectively, there has been no response from the government.

628 Society Villages Across Tibet Border Areas
China has been stepping up its infrastructure development in areas where previously, border transgressions were reported frequently. While both troops clashed at Tuting in 1975, killing four Indian soldiers, the Samdurong Chu stand-off took years to resolve. Longju, Asaphila, Migyitun, Namka Chu, Chantze and other areas in Arunachal have witnessed frequent border transgressions since the late 1990s.

China’s Arunachal ‘Incursion’: Why India Should Look at the Bigger Picture

Recently, China upped the ante by building “defence villages” in the border areas. In 2005, ten political parameters were announced to resolve the territorial dispute between India and China. One of these parameters is that populated areas should not be disturbed. Since then, not only did China begin mentioning Arunachal Pradesh as “southern Tibet” in its documents, but also gradually began constructing settlements to reinforce its claims in the region.

By late 2020, it was announced that over 600 such villages were already constructed, with at least one Communist Party cadre, surveillance systems, telecommunications, border defence duties and other facilities for border domination. It indicates their goal of border domination.

The Villages Are Given Highest Level of Legitimacy
These are comprehensive party-state backed units with long-term consequences to regional security, economy and environment. The highest level of legitimacy was provided to such actions, with President Xi Jinping visiting Tibet (and Nyingchi, which is a few kilometres north of Arunachal Pradesh) on July 21-23; as many as 11 out of the 15 existing Politburo members of the Communist Party visited Tibet in the last few months. There is a clear political and military escalation by China on this issue.
Also Read
How Much Territory Has China ‘Grabbed’ in Arunachal Pradesh?

Large-scale Han migration and ethnic change through forced marriages with locals (reported on a large scale in Xinjiang) are expected in the near future, with massive demographic consequences in the border areas with India, all in the bid to achieve terrain and demographic advantage over India.

By doing so, China is also deliberately changing the borders and firming up its position in case of any eventual resolution of the territorial dispute with India. The 23 October passing of the Land Border Law by China’s National People’s Congress adds fuel to fire on the borders with India.

Xi's 2017 Letter to Village Herders
Soon after getting an extension at the 19th Communist Party congress in 2017, Xi wrote a letter to Yume village herders (which is 30 km north of Asaphila in Arunachal Pradesh). This came in the wake of the resolution of the Doklam crisis. In his letter to Drolkar and Yangzom on 28 October, Xi said, “Without peace in the territory, there will be no peaceful lives for millions of families. hope you will motivate more herders to set down roots in the border area like galsang flowers, and become guardians of the Chinese territory and constructors of a happy hometown.” Yangzom was later chosen by the Communist Party as a “model” at its 100th anniversary on 1 July this year.
Also Read
How China is Grabbing Arunachal Land & Why ‘Map Should Be Redrawn’

Subsequently, China built a village at Metok, bordering the Upper Subansari district in Arunachal Pradesh, where it also intends to build one of the largest hydroelectricity dams in the world across the Yarlong Zangbo river, which becomes the Brahmaputra. Metok is connected to Nyingchi by a highway that was constructed with over $300 million.
Other such “model villages” include those at Migyitun at Tsari Chu, Chayu, Lower Chayu, Yume, Cona Lepo and others. An aggressive China did not even leave smaller countries like Bhutan or Nepal and built such villages at Pangda, Sedewo, Mabjathang, Menchuma, Gyalaphug, Dermalumg and other areas in Bhutan.


Plans for Azad Kashmir, Too
A land-hungry China even disregarded its own 1961 treaty with Nepal and demolished border markers in several border areas such as at Humla, Darchula, Daulkha, Gorkha, Rasuwa and other places. According to recent reports, China is planning to set up such “well-off villages” in Azad Kashmir as well.
That China is making a concerted effort to expand is also seen in terms of the logistic networks and military build-up. The highways G219, G318, G214, G314 and others provide China with the ability to induct 12 to 15 divisions, while the 15 airfields and heliports could be used for tactical deployments and bombing missions.

Why is India’s MEA Silent on China’s Dam Project Near Arunachal?

Such party-army outposts at South Asian gates provide China with new tools to cross the Himalayan barriers, even as it pumps financial resources to create indebted nations and attempts at regime changes in the region. India then needs to not only upgrade its military capabilities, but also reach out to affected South Asian countries to oppose such hegemonic forays of China.
(Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
hequint.com/voices/opinion/why-is-india-in-denial-as-china-pushes-into-arunachal#read-more

Who says they are in denial? Both Bhakts, their PM/top military commander and the Chinese all agree that those are Chinese territory. What’s wrong with Chinese alleviating poverty on their own territory? At the very least the farmers are not shot by accident.