Source: News Bharati |
Itanagar, April 23:
China has planned to establish astronomical observatory into Aksai Chin
province of Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, China is trying to
push South Korea, Japan and Taiwan for the proposed project. China’s
proposed project has created new concerns for India’s border security.
The East Asia Core Observatories
Association (EACOA) with China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan as its
members has identified Aksai Chin for the observatory after surveying
several areas in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Pamirs Plateau in
Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Ali in Tibet's Ngari Prefecture that
falls within Aksai Chin is the proposed site for the observatory.
According to China, the observatory will
carry out research on planetary science, star formation, gamma-ray
bursts and other astronomical projects. It will conduct around-the-clock
observations of certain celestial bodies. The planned observatory will
enable scientists from China, Japan and South Korea to build large-scale
telescopes and carry out joint research programmes.
Though China has clarified that
the proposed project will be initiated for research only but in real
sense China is trying to straighten its power in Aksai province
collaborating with the neighbouring nations. If China moves forward with
proposed plan; it will be an alarm for India’s border security. Also
the move, if successful, it will legitimize China's claim over the Aksai
Chin and make it difficult for India to establish its rights over it.
However, Indian Security Agencies seems
be quite reluctant about China’s dangerous moves. The Ministry of
Defense (MoD) has downplayed any threat emanating from the moves to the
national security.
“We are aware of China’s defense
spending and modernization plans and its latest move in the Aksai Chin
region. It poses no significant threat to the country,” a statement
released by the MoD revealed.
Chief of Army Staff, General V.K. Singh
has also downplayed reports that China has again dared India by trying
to legitimize its claim and control over Aksai Chin in Ladakh, saying
the place is quite far from the Siachin Glacier.
However, Defense analysts see the
Chinese proposal for the observatory as an attempt to complicate the
Aksai Chin dispute by drawing in Japan and South Korea who are members
of the Japan-based EACOA.
China’s infiltration into Indian
Territory is not new. Even after clear cut demarcation of boundaries
after Indo- Sino War in 1962, China is trying to legitimize its claim on
the Aksai Chin province.
Taking advantage of ignorance on part of
Indian government towards border areas China has done huge investment
in infrastructural development and has constructed huge roads directly
touching Indian boundaries. It has constructed around 6,000 km of roads
along the Indian border. China can quickly mobilize its troops and
equipment on the strategic border. China is constructing ambitious hydro
engineering project in eastern plateau of Tibet for which it has
diverted Brahmaputra River in the upper reaches of Tibet.
China is also investing in the
infrastructure sector of India’s neighboures. China has invested in
Gwadar in Pakistan, and Humbantota in Sri Lanka where a spanking new
commercial port and airport are ready for commissioning. China has
funded pipelines, ports and roads in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Along with infrastructural development
China is showcasing its military power by joining hands with Pakistan.
China carried out joint training drill with Pakistan Army last year with
the aim to pressurize India. China has expressed an interest in setting
up military bases in Pakistan's volatile tribal area or the Northern
Areas, close to the restive Chinese province of Xinjiang.
It is also alleged that China provides
logistic support to insurgent groups in North east India. Assam’s
extremist rebel group ULFA has openly accepted its ties with People’s
Liberation Army of China.
India’s ignorance of National
soil has a background of Nehruvian blunderbuss foreign diplomacy.
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited criticism over his
comment on Aksai Chin. Parliamentarian Mahveer Tyagi famously
criticised Nehru's statement in the Indian Parliament in the prelude to
the Sino-Indian War. Nehru commented that "Not a blade of grass grows in Aksai Chin",
attempting to explain that Aksai Chin was a barren, inhospitable land
and the nation had lost little by its occupation by China. Tyagi
retorted cynically, pointing to his bald head, "Nothing grows here ...Should it be cut off or given away to somebody else?”
Defense analysts observe that Chinese
proposal for the observatory as an attempt to complicate the Aksai Chin
dispute by drawing in Japan and South Korea. Although Mod has ruled out
any possible treat from China but taking note of China’s aggressive
military expansion near border areas Indian security agencies need to be
more vigilant and should closely monitor China’s movements.
http://en.newsbharati.com//Encyc/2012/4/23/China-plans-to-develop-astronomical-observatory-in-Aksai-Chin,-threat-to-Indian-borders.aspx?NB=&lang=1&m1=&m2=&p1=&p2=&p3=&p4=&NewsMode=int
No comments:
Post a Comment