KARACHI: China’s state state-owned Global Times warned India on Wednesday to give up “misjudgments” and “misperceptions” about their northern neighbour and said Beijing had “the ability and wisdom to safeguard every inch of its land.”

In an editorial that came in the wake of the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, in a clash on Monday on Galwan valley, the paper, owned by the Communist Party of China’s People’s Daily group and known for hard-hitting views on foreign policy issues, said the main cause of the clash was “the arrogance and recklessness of the Indian side.”

The paper then spelled out what those “misjudgments” and “misperceptions” were. One: New Delhi believes “China does not want to sour ties with India because of increasing strategic pressure from the US.” Therefore, the Indian side believed, “China lacks the will to hit back [at] provocations from the Indian side.” Two, “some Indian people mistakenly believe their country’s military is more powerful than China’s.” These misperceptions, the paper said, affected “the rationality of Indian opinion and add pressure to India’s China policy.” The paper said the aim of American policy was to “make India dedicate itself to serving Washington’s interests.” How could, the paper said, “China sacrifice its sovereignty in exchange for peace and bow to threats from New Delhi?

Global Times added: “The US has wooed India with its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which adds to the above-mentioned misjudgment of some Indian elite. In 2017 when Indian troops crossed the line and entered the Doklam area to openly challenge China’s territorial sovereignty, their craze was caused by such arrogance. Such an aggressive posture has won praise from the Indian public, which means that the Indian elite’s mentality toward China is unhealthy and dangerous.

“China does not want to clash with India and hopes to peacefully deal with bilateral border disputes. This is China’s goodwill, not weakness. How could China sacrifice its sovereignty in exchange for peace and bow to threats from New Delhi? China and India are big countries. Peace and stability along border areas matter to both countries as well as to the region. New Delhi must be clear that the resources that the US would invest in China-India relations are limited. What the US would do is just extend a lever to India, which Washington can exploit to worsen India’s ties with China, and make India dedicate itself to serving Washington’s interests.

“The gap between China’s and India’s strength is clear. China does not want to turn border issues with India into a confrontation. This is goodwill and restraint from China. But China is confident in the situation at the border. It does not and will not create conflicts, but it fears no conflicts either. This policy is supported by both morality and strength. We will not trade our bottom line with anyone.

“The clash in the Galwan Valley this time has led to casualties on both sides, indicating China-India border tensions, amid constant frictions, may spiral out of control. We notice that the leadership of the two militaries has exercised restraint after the incident, indicating that both sides would like to handle the conflict peacefully and not let the conflict escalate. It is noteworthy that the Chinese side did not disclose the number of casualties of the Chinese military, a move that aims to avoid comparing and preventing confrontational sentiments from escalating.

“We would like to see tensions in the Galwan valley subside. It is hoped that the Indian side can strengthen management of frontline troops and engineers, and adhere to the consensus reached between the leadership of the two militaries. It will benefit both sides if the situation cools down, and it needs the efforts of both Chinese and Indian frontline troops.

“On the China-India border issue, the Chinese public should trust the government and the People’s Liberation Army. They will firmly safeguard China’s territorial integrity and maintain national interests when dealing with border conflicts. China has the ability and wisdom to safeguard every inch of its land and will not let any strategic trick meet its end. “

Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command revealed on Tuesday the Chinese military recently conducted joint exercises aimed “at the destruction of key hostile hubs in a high-elevation mountainous region after Monday’s clash with Indian troops.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2020