China’s rise, unsettled borders pose formidable challenge for India: CDS Anil
Pune: India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has said the unsettled borders with China and the rise of that country will remain the most formidable challenge for New Delhi and its armed forces in the foreseeable future..
According to Kashmir Media Service, General Chauhan, addressing the 3rd Strategic and Security Dialogue on the Emergence of China and its implications, said India has disputed borders with neighbours and these conflicts have led to the emergence of terms like the Line of Actual Control, Line of Control, and Actual Ground Position Line.
He underscored the importance of managing disputes along the boundary with acumen, particularly in engagements with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
He stressed the necessity for India to maintain its territorial assertions during peacetime and advocated for resolute yet measured responses to PLA “incitements”.
The General discussed the evolving nature of boundary conflicts, emphasizing the significance of countering opponent strategies such as cartographic aggression and narrative manipulation through collaborative efforts from diverse sectors, including academia and strategic thinkers.
Referring to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s viewpoint on Sino-India relations transcending border disputes, General Chauhan highlighted the interconnectedness of global dynamics and the necessity for equitable alliances among similar nations.
“Similarly, in an increasingly inter-connected world, Sino-India relations cannot be viewed in a binary kind of perspective. The rise of China affects other nations as well, and we must look at like-minded nations for an equitable balance while remaining cognisant of the fact that one must be prepared to fight its own battle,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.
Regarding technological obstacles, he cautioned against a notable technology gap emerging between India and its adversaries, stressing the urgency for India to uphold technological parity for national security.
