They say, ‘Once bitten twice shy’ and as such India should seriously take note of the activities China is carrying on around it

They say, ‘Once bitten twice shy’ and as such India should seriously take note of the activities  China is carrying on around it Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.) President, Emeritus, Dehradun Ex-Services League
It has been reported that the Chinese have sold five old sub marines to Pakistan at throw away prizes.  It tantamounts  to creating trouble in Indian waters  to strengthen their Navy  and create more problems for India. In addition China is carrying on certain projects in countries around India where they are taking up construction works
at their own cost so that they may remain there to create their own bases there, if required. The Govt’s  of the concerned countries are not taking it seriously because it is not costing them anything and may provide  jobs to some of their people. It is learnt that most of the works are being done by the Chinese themselves where they put those persons who create problems for them at home. The latest in the series is the  proposal to construction of railway line connecting Beijing with Kathmandu with a tunnel under world’s tallest peak Mount  Everest. The link between Beijing and Kathmandu will bring New Delhi within the sphere of Chinese influence.
The Quinghai-Tibet railway already links the rest of China with Tibetan capital Lhasa and beyond, and its  extension  upto the international border is already being planned. They are constructing road along the border in Tibet whereas they are not allowing our people to construct even temporary accommodation along the border within our country. In 2013 they constructed road to link Pakistan via Karakoram as Silk Road economic belt, calling it revival of old Silk
Route. They have made military bases in Myanmar, Srilanka, Karachi etc. to surround India.  At the start of  the century Chinese mooted the idea of  ‘Maritime Silk Road’ (MSR) called ‘One Belt One Road’ to countries connected through Sea but their claim of suzerainty over South China Sea has cautioned those countries.
Off late China had been showing its expansionist  designs to become a power in the world matching the US, Russia and other Western countries keeping in mind that India is developing fast to take up permanent seat in the security council  of UNO. Chinese have acquired enough technology from western countries and have captured the markets all over the world, due to less cost of production there. They are trying to build up trade relations with different countries around India to capture their markets so that they may not object to their other projects which they take up for them. By putting its claim on the complete sovereignty of  South China Sea where  they have established a vast military base posing a threat to the neighboring countries antagonizing countries like, Vietnam,  Thailand, Phillipines, Japan, Taiwan  Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia which are situated around South China Sea. China had laid claim to most of the South China Sea. They  have even raised issues with Japan over  Spratly islands  which is with Japan for time immemorial.
Now China is building an artificial island in the disputed area of the South China Sea to have  a base for military defence and provide civilian services that would benefit other countries. The reclamation spanning seven reefs has raised concern for other claimants of the territory. “We are building shelters, aids for navigation, search and
rescue as well as marine meteorological forecasting services, fishery services and other administrative services,”  Hua said. After the visit of  Chinese President  XiJinping’s visit to India in Sep. 2014, the incidents of incursions into India were stopped but lately the Chinese troops have once again started showing their teeth on borders by crossing over to Indian side, though they withdrew after Indian troops challenged them. Though their had been a number of
visits of officials from both countries and discussions on solving Indo China border issue but we should not take China on the face value. We have already suffered when in  1962 China attacked India while  Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai negotiations were going on at the highest level.
In view of the above India should be very cautious about the activities Chinese are carrying out around it and should take measures to strengthen their position at the earliest. Govt. of India should also apprise the neighbouring countries about the intentions of the Chinese and about their  expansionist designs which appear simple now but are likely to usurp  their areas in the long run.