Antony to visit China next year

Chinese Defence Minister at the Guard of Honour outside South Block

 

Chinese Defence Minister getting a taste of Indian media

Joint statement issued by India and China after delegation-level talks between the two defence ministers-

INDIA AND CHINA AGREE TO EXPAND DEFENCE COOPERATION

NEXT ROUND OF JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE EARLIEST

ANTONY TO VISIT CHINA NEXT YEAR

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

India and China today reached consensus on a wide range of issues relating to defence and military exchanges and cooperation to be conducted this year and beyond.  At the 90 minute delegation level meeting between the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the visiting Defence Minister of China General Liang Guanglie here in South Block, it was agreed by the two sides to conduct the next round of Joint Military Exercises at the earliest. 

They also agreed to strengthen border security cooperation between the border troops of the two sides so as to enhance and maintain peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas.

The two sides proclaimed their decision to work together to maintain peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, promote port calls by naval ships of the two sides and conduct joint maritime search and rescue exercises.  The two sides decided to further enhance and strengthen cooperation between the naval forces of both sides in counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.

The Chinese side invited the Shri Antony to visit China in 2013.  Shri Antony thanked General Liang for the invitation and conveyed that the timing of his visit could be settled through diplomatic channels.  The two sides decided to strengthen the high level exchanges between the two defence ministries and Armed Forces of both sides.  They also decided to promote exchange visits by personnel at different levels and in various fields.  The two countries will strengthen exchanges in personnel training, academic research and cooperation between educational institutions of the Armed Forces of both sides.

The two sides also discussed the regional security situation and international issues of common interests and concern.  Both Ministers agreed that expanding bilateral cooperation between the defence ministries and armed forces of India and China helps enhance mutual trust, deepens friendship and promotes comprehensive development of the India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.  The two defence ministers agreed to work together to enhance mutual trust in the security field and continue to maintain peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas.  They noted that the leaders of India and China have designated 2012 as the year of India-China friendship and cooperation.

General Liang inspected an Inter-services Guard of Honour in the forecourt of South Block.

China illegally claims 90,000 sq km land in Arunachal: Antony

A day before Chinese Defence Minister lands in the national capital, Defence Minister AK Antony laid bare the facts about infrastructure development and “illegal” territorial claims of Beijing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

Assuring the Parliament that the Defence Ministry was seized of the matter, Antony said that China’s claim on north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is illegal. “In the eastern sector, China illegally claims approximately 90,000 sq. km. of Indian territory in the State of Arunachal Pradesh,” Antony told the Parliament in a written reply. Earlier this year, China had refused visa to an Indian Air Force officer hailing from the state much to the chagrin of the South Block.

Besides this, the Defence Minister said that since 1962 China has been occupying nearly 38,000 sq kms of land in Jammu and Kashmir and under the “so called China-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq kms of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China”.

India shares nearly 3,300 km of dispute boundary with China and both the countries had briefly fought a bloody war with each other in 1962. However, peace overtures in the recent years increased comfort between the two neighbors to a level where they could conduct joint military exercises. The bilateral defence ties were suspended in 2010 when China refused to give visa to an Indian Army commander posted in Kashmir.

The Defence Minister also informed the Parliament that India was monitoring the infrastructure development along the border and in PoK and has asked China to cease such activities. “Government is aware of the infrastructure development by China at the border and their undertaking infrastructure projects in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Government has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and asked them to cease such activities,” the Defence Minister said.

It is after eight years that a Chinese Defence Minister is coming to India. General Liang Guanglie will land in Delhi on Tuesday fresh from his visit to Sri Lanka, where Beijing has been taking a keen interest in developing ports much to the discomfort of India.

While the territorial border dispute is yet to reach any conclusion soon, both the sides will discuss resuming of joint military exercises. The two neighbours had their first bilateral exercise in 2007, when Indian Army troops visited Kunming in China.