M A I N   N E W S

Remain updated on China, Antony tells Army commanders
Ajay Banerjee/TNS

New Delhi, April 8
China and its rapidly growing military activities figured prominently at the conference of Indian Army Commanders that got underway today. Sources said Defence Minister AK Antony asked the Army top brass to remain updated on China’s military growth and plan India’s defence accordingly.

The Army is scheduled to conduct a joint field exercise with the People’s Liberation Army of China at the end of this year.

The five-day conference, being attended by all General Officers Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-Cs), is a brainstorming session during which all important issues will be taken up. During the conference, senior officers will be graded by the top brass for further promotions.

Antony talked about China and how the Army would also have to “factor it in alongside threats from other areas like Pakistan”. Antony did not miss out on warning the commanders about the threats from neighbourhood and the continuance of terror camps in PoK.

New Delhi and Beijing have a 100-year-old dispute over the demarcation of border in the Himalayas. Vast sections are disputed with either side laying claims and counter-claims.

The annual defence report for 2012-13 released by the Ministry of Defence on March 21 said: “India remains conscious and watchful of the implications of the China’s military profile in the immediate and extended neighbourhood. India is also taking necessary measures to develop the requisite capabilities to counter any adverse impact on its security.”

Over the past few months, China has launched a transport plane, Y-20, which hugely increases its ability to lift a large group of armed troops and land them anywhere on the Tibetan plateau, just north of India. Its sea-borne aircraft carrier, Liaoning, originally procured from Ukraine at the fall of the Soviet Union, is sailing.