Click to play videoNew Delhi: If you thought all the fuss was about one Chinese intrusion into the tiny Finger Area at the northern tip of Sikkim on Monday, wait till you hear this – CNN-IBN has learnt that Chinese troops have already made as many as 71 incursions this year across the entire Sikkim stretch of the boundary with India.
Beijing has served notice that it is disputing not just the Finger Area, as has been widely reported, but the entire Sikkim boundary. India, which has not challenged the intruding Chinese troops even once, now seems caught in a response paralysis.
“As far as Sikkim is concerned, which is a federal matter, it is unfortunate that this is happening,” Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said.
For six months, the Government has concealed the Chinese intrusions from the public. No policy directive has been conveyed to the Indian Army on dealing with the intrusions in Sikkim, which, unlike the rest of the Sino-Indian front, has its borders with Tibet well defined for ages.
“We are trying to avoid confrontation and so dialogue is being continued,” Defence Minister AK Antony said.
Very little effort has been made to deter China by filling up the glaring voids in India's military capability.
The Indian Army's assessment suggests that there's a higher probability of a future war breaking out in the mountains. But a brutal self-appraisal would reveal that India's capability to wage an offensive war in the mountains is still very limited.
So, while India talks of dialogue, Chinese troops continue to take their frequent walks across the disputed boundaries.
Sikkim could well be an undeterred China's negotiating chip in the boundary talks.
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