Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 4

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today told the Lok Sabha that “perceptional differences” between India and China regarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at times results in incidents like transgression, incursion and face-off at the border.

However, the Army is fully alert and the border is completely secure, he asserted in response to Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s observation regarding India’s “soft” stance towards China as compared to “offensive” stand against Pakistan despite Chinese activities along border regions.

According to the Defence Minister, because of perceptional differences, sometimes situation of confrontation arises between the People’s Liberation Army (armed forces of China) and the Indian Army, which is also defused maturely with available mechainisms. “We have several mechanisms to resolve and settle disputes. Whenever such a situation develops, everyone must be aware how maturely the two armies deal with it, without allowing it to escalate. Face-off is not allowed to escalate, at least that is being ensured,” he said.

“Let me assure you that the government is fully alert about the country’s security. Infrastructure like roads, tunnels, railway lines and airfields are also being developed along the India-China border,” Singh said in response to Chowdhury’s criticism of India’s stance on China.

“We are surrounded by two hostile neighbors — China and Pakistan. We can change history but not geography. We raise our voice against Pakistan due to its terror activities and our government deals with their activities strongly. Terrorists are shielded by Pakistan which is further shielded by China,” Chowdhury said,

“If we are so strong in our responses to Pakistan, why the weakness in the way we respond to China. Are we scared of China?” the Congress leader questioned.