New Delhi: Expressing concern over Chinese
military infrastructure buildup, Defence Minister A K Antony
on Tuesday said India was working to match it to protect the
country's territory and build an effective deterrence.
"China is expanding its military capabilities and their
infrastructure in the border area is also increasing
substantially and we are concerned about that," he said.
The Minister made these remarks when asked about India's
response to Chinese military modernization in the Eastern and
Northern sectors.
"We have been improving our infrastructure and military
capabilities in the eastern sector. We are strengthening our
military capability and infrastructure not for confrontation,
but to protect our territory and also to build an effective
deterrence. So that we can protect every inch of Indian
territory," Antony said.
India has been deploying its frontline fighter aircraft
Sukhoi-30 MKIs on its airbases along the Chinese border in the
North-East and has raised two Mountain Divisions there.
Ultra light howitzers and tanks under new armoured
formations are also planned to be deployed in the region.
Asked about the existing defence ties with China, Antony
said the Defence Secretary-level talks between the two sides
will be held next year.
"Defence exchanges with China are again resuming. I hope
the defence dialogue (between the two nations) at the Defence
Secretary-level will again resume next years," Antony told
reporters here on the sidelines of Fifth South Asia
Conference here.
India and China will hold the Annual Defence Dialogue
(ADD) in January next year during which the two sides are
expected to discuss resumption of their joint army exercise
and the pending border issues between them.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 14:05