In a recent interview Thupstan Chhewang, the chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, showed concern that India is being too soft on China on the border issues. Where China is not just aggressive about keeping their side of the border areas but also forcefully occupying some of the Indian side too, India is just shying away from facing the problem.

China is boldly claiming rich pasture regions in Chumur and Skagjung in Ladakh as their land and chasing away local tribes from there, while the Indian army is shying away from the problem, and is advising the nomads from Changthang to stay away from there. In Dungti, a motorable bridge was constructed to take cattle for grazing on the other side of Indus which is well within the Indian borders. However, China objected to it and it had to be removed.
The Chinese ends, on the other hand, are overtly possessive about their border areas. Chhewang relates, about four or five years ago Chinese patrol chased an Indian party four or five kilometers inside the Indian side of the Pangong Lake. They captured the crew of the Indian boat, and took them prisoner.

In 2005 the Indian government agreed to exchange some of the uninhabited places like Aksai Chin, with the Chinese. Chhewang questions such timid moves from the government. He argues that Ladakh is a vast region and the population very sparse; there is much vacant land which does not mean it is useless and can be given away.

On one side India is fighting for every inch of its border with Pakistan, while it is turning a blind eye where it shares its borders with China. All Indian territories should be protected equally whether in public eye or not, after all we are paying our taxes so our land can be protected from intruders all alike.

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VIA: Rediff News