China’s state-run Global Times newspaper accused India of trying push across the disputed border while Beijing was distracted by pressure from the US and long-running tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits.
An editorial within the ultra-nationalist Chinese language paper stated: “India’s navy actions have developed into more and more aggressive in recent days, and border tensions see no signal of de-escalating.
On 31 August, China resorted to “provocative action” along the disputed boundary in Ladakh once again even as the talks were already going on between the two-nation to de-escalate matters on the Line of Actual Control.
“The Indian Army has changed its posture from border management to securing the border on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) added a military deployment in the region.
“India also deployed additional specialised forces such as the Special Frontier Force, and the Indian media said its soldiers have occupied key peaks on the southern bank of Pangong Lake.
It has been reported that the Chinese PLA wanted to capture an important peak ‘black top’ so as to monitor the Indian posts and their activities near the dormant height.
However, the Indian Army thwarted the Chinese PLA’s attempt to capture the important peak after an intense face-off on the night of August 28-29 there and occupied the dormant height within its territory.
“These high-profile actions confirmed that the Indian navy and its authorities leaders are extraordinarily certain of themselves and China should put together for long-term tensions on the border.
“But when Indian troops invade Chinese language territory and attack Chinese language troops, it doesn’t matter what form of strain China is going through to the east, India will certainly pay a heavy worth.
“China won’t ever compromise and India’s miscalculations will endanger its frontline troops.”
Lin Minwang, deputy director at the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that India is still ready to negotiate rather than start a war.
He said New Delhi’s aggressive military activities were serving their purpose of keeping the border situation tense and trying to force China to compromise.
The border dispute was reignited last weekend when Indian forces claimed to have foiled an attempt by Chinese troops to occupy a hill on the border. However, China rejected the accusation that Individuals‘s Liberation Military (PLA) troops had breached the border amid hovering tensions between the 2 sides.
Both sides had agreed to promptly and properly handle border issues to avoid rise of differences into disputes after a brutal clash that took place on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. But a full disengagement has not happened yet. The Indian Army accused Chinese forces of breaching that accord over the weekend.
