Chinese Media Warn India of All Out War from Kashmir to Sikkim

Beijing: In a fresh warning to India on Tuesday, Chinese state media said that China can go on an "all out" confrontation along the entire around 4000-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) that spreads from Ladakh to Kashmir in North to Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the East.

China is battle ready and not afraid to go to war with India, and will face "all-out confrontation" along the entire disputed border, Chinese daily Global Times warned in an Op-Ed titled 'India's provocation will trigger all-out confrontation on LAC'.

The paper, known to be a mouthpiece of Beijing, argued that China "tries hard to avoid a military clash with India, but that India should prepare for "all-out confrontation" if it triggers conflict.

It further said China must deploy more troops along the border with India and speed up road construction in Doklam where the two sides have been engaged in a month-long standoff.

The stand-off began when Indian troops stopped Chinese soldiers from building a road in Doklam, an area disputed by China and Bhutan.

The road is near the trijunction with Bhutan. The Op-ed article in the Global Times claimed that the Indian action to stop Chinese troops from building the road near the Doklam plateau was a "blatant infringement on China's sovereignty". India fears the road construction may allow Chinese troops to cut India's access to its northeastern states. New Delhi has told China that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.

Today's article in the Chinese daily, however, said that China doesn't "recognize the land under the actual control of India is Indian territory" and the border negotiations are still ongoing. It said China doesn't "fear going to war" and will make "itself ready for a long term confrontation."

"China must be prepared for future conflicts and confrontation. China can take further countermeasures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). If India stirs up conflicts in several spots, it must face the consequence of an all-out confrontation with China along the entire LAC".

"The 3,500-km border has never been short of disputes. Since the 1962 border war, the Indian side has repeatedly made provocations", Duo said.

The commentary comes after the People's Liberation Army conducted a live-fire drill in Tibet, which borders India.

"According to the Indian media, Indian troops are stationed at the border area and have set up logistical support. They even claim that India will continue the confrontation with China at the Sikkim section of the China-India border until the Chinese troops withdraw".

"In response, China must continue strengthening border construction and speed up troop deployment and construction in the Doklam area. These are legitimate actions of a sovereign country".

"If India plans to devote more resources in the border area, then so be it. China can engage in a competition with India over economic and military resources deployment in the border area. With growing national strength, China is capable of deploying resources in remote border areas".

"As the confrontation goes on, China needs to get ready for the face-off becoming a long-term situation and at the same time needs to maintain a sense of rationality", the editorial said.

Global Times, which has been leading the Chinese media attack on New Delhi, also claimed that since the 1962 border war, only India has provoked China along the border.

"India and China both had a history of past colonisation, and now both are enjoying fast economic growth. But China has risen quickly to be the world's No.2 economy. As time is on China's side, New Delhi is deeply concerned with China's rapid rise. Provocation at the border reflects India's worry and attempt to sound out China," it said.

Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.

3,488-km-long India-China border stretches from Kashmir in North to Arunachal Pradesh in the East.