Prepared for more face-offs in Doklam, says Army chief

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Bipin Rawat has said that the Army is fully prepared should there ever be a repeat of what happened in the Doklam region of Bhutan near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction area that saw both the militaries of India and China engaged in a bitter face-off for 73 days.

“We recognise that China is a powerful nation, but let us not forget we are not a weak nation either … They have withdrawn from the site of the stalemate but beyond that, they have continued to maintain their position. The Chinese are still there in North Doklam, but the equipment has gone back. The equipment is no longer there, construction activities we saw in July are no longer happening. Temporary structures are still there but there is a reduction in manpower. However, there could be some movement once the winter months are over. So we have to be prepared, but the diplomatic efforts are still on,” the COAS told reporters here on Friday.

Rawat, who was talking to reporters, said that minor construction continues to take place in Doklam but last year the face-off happened because it saw personnel from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) moving in large amount of equipment.

“We felt that it was a change in status quo,” he said adding that those large equipments have all now been withdrawn and talks through diplomatic channels are actively going on. “Diplomatic engagement is happening with China rather well. We are also seeking the help of other counties in the region to ensure that we are not isolated. We also have to be prepared militarily. Too long we have focused on the western border, now it is time to build infrastructure on the Northern Border,” Rawat said.

The COAS also added that the Indian Army plans to increase its cyber security capabilities. “We are also sincerely looking to increase our cyber security capabilities. We cannot allow our neighbours Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, to drift away from us. On a military level, our engagement is of the highest order … We will not allow our territory to be invaded by anyone."

He highlighted that post the Doklam incident, the Army has increased patrolling activities in the northern border. “We have increased our patrolling intensity, so has the adversary (China). Sometimes a patrol goes through without clashes, sometimes when territory overlaps there may be clashes. But we have mechanisms in place with China to defuse any such incidents,” he said.

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