The Global Times (October 10) published a hard-hitting article using language warning India.
Reacting to reports in the Indian media that '"Chinese soldiers were detained for crossing the
borderline", it dismissed that as a "fabricated rumour" disseminated "via the mouthpiece of the
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Indian media, a thief crying "stop thief" trick that Chinese analysts said exposes that India side has
learned nothing from last year's border skirmish and should be held culpable for the latest incident".
It pointed out that the report "was slammed by the China Daily", adding that a Chinese military
source had said "Chinese border troops conducted a routine patrol on September 28 in the
Dongzhang area on the Chinese side of the Sino-Indian border and encountered "unreasonable
obstruction" from the Indian military. The Chinese officers and soldiers took countermeasures
resolutely and returned after the patrol mission was completed". Qian Feng, Director of the
Research Department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global
Times "The China-India border has been peaceful for some time, while the incident in the
Dongzhang area, where the Indian army obstructed the Chinese border troop's routine patrol,
shows India's deliberate provocation and distortion of facts as it did last year". Qian Feng said
India "continues hyping Chinese "crossing the borderline" has shown the Indian side has learned
nothing since last year's clash, and is fully culpable for this incident". The Global Times article
claimed "China's border regions with India have been facing pressure of being encroached by the
Indian side. It quoted local border defence police as saying that in 2001, Indian troops tore down
a bridge leading to a holy waterfall in Dongzhang region in Shannan city of Xizang, where Chinese
residents could take water there, and set up a military checkpoint by the river". "At southeastern
region of Xizang, villagers told the Global Times that Indian troops and residents have crossed
border several times. The Indians have been trying to "claim their existence" by painting slogans
on big rocks. "Every time we see such slogans, we clean up and write Chinese on the rocks," said
a Chinese villager". It quoted Li Xin, the political instructor of a border defence battalion, telling
the Global Times that "With the intention of eroding Chinese territory and bargaining with China
in future Sino-Indian border talks, India has been consistently provoking small troubles at the
border and increasing troop numbers, infringing upon China's territory and sovereignty". He added
"But Chinese troops would not step back in any circumstances. "If we step back a centimetre today,
it means the shrinkage of the national territory. This is absolutely unacceptable!" Huang Xinyu, a
young border defence soldier in Xizang said "If there is an enemy who wants to infringe upon our
territory or sovereignty, he would have to cross my dead body!" It said while the 13th round of
talks at the border would be held, "experts warned the incident in Dongzhang will poison the
atmosphere of border talks". Zhao Gancheng, Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the
Shanghai Institute for International Studies, was quoted saying "The Indian government, military
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and media habitually pick up and hype border issues before talks between the two armies… to test
the Chinese side's bottom line and to flame domestic opinion. They intend to create an illusion for
the Indian public that the Indian army is taking the upper hand in everything". He stressed that
China's restraints should not be interpreted as tolerance for slander, and suggested China should
lodge representations over the India media and military's constant hyping and misreporting of
border issues. Jun Zhengping Studio, a commentary session run by the People's Liberation Army
Daily said on October 10 that Indian media hyping the so-called Chinese troops crossing the
borderline is "despicable." It warned that India has developed a tendency to hype the China-India
border issue, but these actions are harmful to others and itself. It added that Chinese experts noted
that the Chinese side has exercised restraints, and only published authoritative information, in the
hope of maintaining a harmonious atmosphere for the two countries to resolve the border issue.
The Global Times also said that examination of the photographs of the incident showed that it was
actually Indian soldiers with low morale who were being escorted by PLA troops in single file in
a rocky, valley terrain. It stated that "The photos were not published by Chinese authorities or
official media outlets, and it remains unknown who posted them or for what purposes, as well as
their authenticity".
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