Bharat Is Not Scared Of Chinese Threat

Modern India is bolder, more confident and powerful and in no condition ready to stoop before the pressure tactics.

- Dr (Prof) Satish Kumar

Recently, China bluntly threatened Bharat for its action in tri-junction, located near Bhutan-China border. China accused Bharat for its offensive posturing in the Chinese territory, called it Doklam. The face-off between two countries started on the issue of road construction on the borders of a 269-sq km plateau in Bhutan.

China said the construction of border road was legitimate. It was being built on Chinese territory that does not belong to Bharat or Bhutan. According to the foreign ministry of China, Bharat crossed the boundary on the Sikkim side into Chinese territory.

This is a blatant lie. Indian troops have been always there at Bhutan border due to many reasons. Obviously one of the reasons is to navigate Chinese incursions in the eastern sectors. China has made the withdrawal of Indian troops a precondition for dialogue. This is completely unacceptable to India.

In fact, Bhutan has made it clear to China that by construction of road China has violated 1998 agreement. Both signed an agreement in 1998 to maintain peace and status quo along the China-Bhutan border.

There is a strategic implications and value of the region. Doka La is at the trijunction of Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet and is strategically important for India as the crucial Siliguri corridor, known as ‘Chicken’s Neck’, is merely 50 km from there. This neck is lifeline between the rest of India and northeastern states.

If the Chinese were to gain possession of the Doklam plateau, in the event of hostilities it would have the ability to essentially “cut off” india’s land access to 40 million citizens in its northeast territories.