In yet another rhetoric over the ongoing military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam area, Beijing’s state media on Tuesday said that India should get ready for an “all-out confrontation” along the entire stretch of the disputed boundary with China, threatening to open up new fronts of conflict on the 3,488 km non-demarcated border between the two countries.
“China doesn't advocate and tries hard to avoid a military clash with India, but China doesn't fear going to war to safeguard sovereignty either, and will make itself ready for a long-term confrontation,” the comment piece in Global Times read.
This comes a day after the Chinese army conducted live-fire drills in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) close to Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by China as part of south Tibet.
“China can take further countermeasures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). If India stirs up conflicts in several spots, it must face the consequence of an all-out confrontation with China along the entire LAC,” the comment piece said.
Affiliated to the Communist Party of China (CPC) mouthpiece, People’s Daily, the Global Times has been on the forefront of Chinese media’s editorial attack on India.
The article mentioned China’s superior military and economic infrastructure in the Sino-India border region, and how that’s an advantage.
“With growing national strength, China is capable of deploying resources in remote border areas. It is conducive to the economic growth of these regions, as well as to safeguarding integration of China’s territory. Road and rail in the Tibetan area have been extended close to the border area with India, Nepal and Bhutan. It’s a competition of military strength, as well as a competition of overall economic strength,” it said.
“China must continue strengthening border construction and speed up troop deployment and construction in the Doklam area. These are legitimate actions of a sovereign country,” it added.
China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector, where Indian troops stopped road construction by Chinese soldiers on June 16. China has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Dokalam plateau. The Doklam area, known as Donglang in China, is under Beijing’s control by claimed by Bhutan.
