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Chinese military activity near Andamans worries India

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

India and China have agreed that the demarcation of the Line of Actual Control along the Sino-Indian border should be drawn to the mutual satisfaction of both sides as expeditiously as possible.

The visiting eight-member Chinese delegation led by People Liberation Army chief General Fu Quonyou told their Indian counterparts that while the overall confidence building measures between the two sides had improved, the progress regarding the LAC was low. General Fu felt the matter should be speeded up as soon as possible.

The PLA chief also met Defence Minister George Fernandes. According to a senior defence ministry official, Fernandes was ready with proof about the reported incursions of Chinese troops into Indian territory, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese foreign affairs spokesman in Beijing had regretted Fernandes's recent remark about the presence of Chinese troops on Indian territory. Beijing had described Fernandes's statement as 'irresponsible.'

The defence ministry official indicated that during his meeting with General Fu, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reiterated India's concern about the Beijing-Islamabad nexus which resulted in the test-firing of Pakistan's intermediate range ballistic missile, Ghauri, early this month.

Vajpayee, the defence ministry spokesman said, pulled no punches in telling General Fu that India viewed Pakistan's firing of the Ghauri missile with great concern and that New Delhi would not hesitate to take relevant measures to protect the country's security.

A China-watcher at the defence ministry told Rediff On The NeT that New Delhi -- while welcoming the PLA chief's visit to improve Sino-Indian relations -- was aware of Beijing's interest in the seas around India.

He asserted that the defence ministry has intelligence reports dating back to 1992 revealing the Chinese assistance to Myanmar in the construction of naval facilities. These relate to the modernisation of the naval base at Hianggyi island at the mouth of the Bassein river, the construction of a signals intelligence facility on the Great Coco island and the development of naval infrastructure at Akyab and Mergui.

New Delhi was especially concerned about Chinese activities on the strategically located Coco Island, which is located only 30 km away from India's Andaman islands. In 1993, he revealed, about 70 Chinese naval and technical personnel arrived at the island to install new radar equipment. This would enable Chinese military personnel to monitor Indian naval communications in the area, especially India's testing of ballistic missiles off its eastern coast.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Chinese army chief calls for early demarcation of LAC
India will convey concern over China-Pak missile nexus to PLA chief
Defence circles doubt US's sincerity in preventing Chinese missile transfer
US acknowledges Indian concerns over China-Pak nexus

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