ID :
15792
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 18:58
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http://m.oananews.org//node/15792
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December date for second Indo-China military drill
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) Building on the goodwill generated in last year's ground-breaking military drill, Indian and Chinese armies are likely to hold their second joint exercise in December on Indian soil to enhance the steadily improving ties between the two powerful militaries of the world.
A high-level Chinese military delegation will visit New Delhi later this month to finalise details of the joint exercise which officials say will be much "bigger" this year.
"The second joint military exercise between People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Indian Army is likely to be held in December," a top Chinese diplomat told PTI.
"A Chinese delegation will be in New Delhi after the Olympic Games to finalise dates and other details of the exercise," he said.
Asked about preparations of the PLA, he said they are looking forward to participate in the joint exercise as it will help enhancing ties between the two armies.
In a sign of warmer ties, India and China conducted their first ever joint exercise code-named 'Hand-in-Hand 2007' at Kunming Military Academy and in a hilly terrain near Kunming in China's Yunnan province from December 21 to 25 last year with the spotlight on anti-terrorism drill.
As many as 103 troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and an equal number from People's Liberation Army took part in the landmark exercise as part of confidence-building measures that upgraded the Sino-Indian military ties.
An official in the Defence Ministry said the "details of the exercise are being worked out" for this year's exercise which will take ties between the two largest armies to a "new high".
"The joint military exercises will help armed forces of the two countries understand each other," the official said.
The growing defence ties between India and China were also exemplified earlier in the joint naval exercise held in November 2003 off Shanghai on China's eastern sea board which has continued since then.
India and China had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 expressing their desire to hold joint military exercises in the fields of search and rescue, anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and other areas of mutual interest.
Sources said China and India are now considering holding a joint military exercise between their air forces.
Military ties between India and China were growing step by step which is important for improving stability and security in the region, they said.
The upcoming military exercise between PLA and Indian Army will be "much bigger and better" than the Kunming exercise, they added.
Bilateral ties between the two countries were affected recently with reports of Chinese incursions and Beijing's claims over certain portions of Indian territory, including the recent controversy over Finger Area in north Sikkim that led New Delhi to express concerns over it.
Defence Minister A K Antony had said though India and China have differing perception on the boundary line, the two armies will go ahead with their second joint exercise this year.
India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir including the 5,180 sq km ceded to Beijing by Islamabad under the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing 90,000 sq km of its territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh.
Unable to find a negotiated settlement through diplomatic
channels, India and China appointed Special Representatives in June 2003 to address the border issue from a political perspective of the overall bilateral relations.
A high-level Chinese military delegation will visit New Delhi later this month to finalise details of the joint exercise which officials say will be much "bigger" this year.
"The second joint military exercise between People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Indian Army is likely to be held in December," a top Chinese diplomat told PTI.
"A Chinese delegation will be in New Delhi after the Olympic Games to finalise dates and other details of the exercise," he said.
Asked about preparations of the PLA, he said they are looking forward to participate in the joint exercise as it will help enhancing ties between the two armies.
In a sign of warmer ties, India and China conducted their first ever joint exercise code-named 'Hand-in-Hand 2007' at Kunming Military Academy and in a hilly terrain near Kunming in China's Yunnan province from December 21 to 25 last year with the spotlight on anti-terrorism drill.
As many as 103 troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and an equal number from People's Liberation Army took part in the landmark exercise as part of confidence-building measures that upgraded the Sino-Indian military ties.
An official in the Defence Ministry said the "details of the exercise are being worked out" for this year's exercise which will take ties between the two largest armies to a "new high".
"The joint military exercises will help armed forces of the two countries understand each other," the official said.
The growing defence ties between India and China were also exemplified earlier in the joint naval exercise held in November 2003 off Shanghai on China's eastern sea board which has continued since then.
India and China had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 expressing their desire to hold joint military exercises in the fields of search and rescue, anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and other areas of mutual interest.
Sources said China and India are now considering holding a joint military exercise between their air forces.
Military ties between India and China were growing step by step which is important for improving stability and security in the region, they said.
The upcoming military exercise between PLA and Indian Army will be "much bigger and better" than the Kunming exercise, they added.
Bilateral ties between the two countries were affected recently with reports of Chinese incursions and Beijing's claims over certain portions of Indian territory, including the recent controversy over Finger Area in north Sikkim that led New Delhi to express concerns over it.
Defence Minister A K Antony had said though India and China have differing perception on the boundary line, the two armies will go ahead with their second joint exercise this year.
India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir including the 5,180 sq km ceded to Beijing by Islamabad under the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing 90,000 sq km of its territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh.
Unable to find a negotiated settlement through diplomatic
channels, India and China appointed Special Representatives in June 2003 to address the border issue from a political perspective of the overall bilateral relations.
