Should the citing of Chinese bunkers established at the Tibetan airport in the city of Lhasa worry New Delhi? Diplomatically it should. There is always a reason to believe that China is overwhelming in the intimidation of its bordering nations.
And here’s proof.
The People’s Liberation Army has also created several bunkers along the side of its border with Russia. But when the Indian side of the version was contacted, then they reported the same as being a ‘new development.’
Recently, just days before, one experienced the celebration of the 96th anniversary of the Communist Party of China in a profound but strange way.
Whether one believes it or not, the Chinese national flag was waved at the Potala Palace at Lhasa, in Tibet. This was actually a part of the autonomous region of Tibet where China’s involved.
But surely, while that development may not have worried India too much what certainly would have- as one reckons- would’ve been the construction of the underground ‘bomb proof’ shelters at Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport.
The Chinse presence lurking increasingly around the borders of India and that of Tibet has been nothing new. Of course, what’s worrying is the constant intimidation that this perspective brings.
What was more disconsolate than anything else for that matter is that at the time where Xi Jinping was present in India, participating in a diplomatic meet with the Prime Minister, the troops at the main border between the two countries were asked to move further closer toward the Indian territory.
Wasn’t that a diplomatic assault dented on India on the part of China?
Popular Indian media outlet Hindustan Times reported the following on the matter:
One of the officials said a “taxi track” from the airstrip leads to blast- or bomb-proof hangers dug deep inside the mountains nearby. The facility, according to the three officials, can hold around three squadrons of fighters or about 36 aircraft.
Of course, the Doklam crisis is something that hasn’t yet become a thing of the past or something that could be turned a blind eye to isn’t it?
The constant spate of Chinese activities then, with Doklam at the background, only increases the worries for a country that neither believes in intimidating its neighbors nor indulges in shenanigans that might upset the diplomatic channel with other countries.
But having said that, the current developments are rather surprising, to be honest. This is for the simple reason that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the recent ties with China have bettered, so to speak.
Elaborating more on this issue, Hindustan Times in its reportage of the Tibetan activities of China shared the following:
Relations between India and China have warmed in recent months. PM Narendra Modi visited Wuhan for an informal summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping where the two leaders committed to bettering ties.
The rapprochement came after the Doklam crisis last year, where troops of both countries were engaged in an extended stand-off. Despite this, though, the security establishments have kept a close eye o n each other’s capabilities.