China’s assertiveness is increasing: Antony
Defence minister A.K. Antony on Monday told top commanders of the armed forces that “there has been an increasing assertiveness on the part of China” and that India is taking all steps to upgrade its defence capabilities. The statement, made at the Armed Forces Combined Commanders’ Conference on Monday, comes in the wake of the recent Chinese refusal to permit a visit of the Indian Army’s Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal to China.
Pointing out that India wants friendly ties with China, the defence minister said, “However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that China has been improving its military and physical infrastructure. In fact, there has been an increasing assertiveness on the part of China. We are taking all the necessary steps to upgrade our capabilities. We have never linked our capabilities to counter any particular nation.”
Mr Antony said that both India and China “have an equal stake in maintaining peace and ensuring development”.
The minister also said that the challenges that India faces includes those “emanating from neighbours who continue to dwell in the past and are keen to foment threats to our national security”.
In an obvious reference to the role of Pakistan in fostering cross-border terrorism, the defence minister said that “events in recent months indicate that the proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir continues unabated”.
Mr Antony also said that though the government has taken steps to prevent recurrence of any 26/11-type attack, “intelligence inputs demand that we cannot afford to drop our guard”.
The Navy is also understood to have communicated to the government that the maritime terror threat still exists.
The defence minister also referred to the Maoist violence, saying it had grown and needed to be addressed urgently.
Significantly, Mr Antony also urged the top commanders of the armed forces to “adopt a more humanitarian approach and outlook in day-to-day dealings with Personnel Below the Rank of Officers”. He also said their “personal conduct and behaviour must set the tone to be followed down the line”. At the conference, speakers also spoke about the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the need for India to station more military assets in the island chain.
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