SRINAGAR, India, July 3, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Prime Minister Narendra
Modi made a surprise visit to rally Indian troops near a disputed
frontier with China Friday, telling them the country’s enemies had
seen their “fire and fury” following a deadly border clash last month.
The incident in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh saw 20 Indian troops
killed in brutal hand-to-hand fighting and was the first time in 45
years that soldiers died in combat on the Asian giants’ long-disputed
Himalayan border.
China has admitted it also suffered casualties but has refused to
divulge how many.
Accompanied by the head of India’s military and the army chief,
Modi visited an army camp about 100 kilometres (60 miles) as the crow
flies from the site of the battle before meeting injured soldiers in a
military hospital.
“In these difficult circumstances, you are the shield of the
motherland,” said Modi, sporting a khaki green parker jacket, aviator
sunglasses and baseball cap of the “Fire and Fury” corps stationed
there. “The enemies of Mother India have seen your fire and fury.”
Without naming China, Modi added that the “era of expansionism is
over… History has shown how expansionism pushed humanity towards
destruction.”
“India has always pursued the path of peace in the world but at the
same time, those who are weak can never initiate steps for peace.
Bravery and courage is a prerequisite for peace,” he added.
– Mutual blame –
China and India have long had a prickly relationship.
Both sides have blamed each other for the clash and since sent
thousands of extra troops to the region.
They have held several rounds of military-level talks and said they
want a negotiated settlement but have made little apparent progress.
Amid outrage on social media, India has attempted to turn the
screws on China economically, this week banning 59 Chinese mobile
phone apps including the wildly popular TikTok citing national
security concerns.
Chinese imports including raw materials vital to India’s huge
pharmaceutical industry have reportedly been piling up at Indian ports
due to more stringent border checks.
Ministers said this week that India will no longer buy Chinese
equipment for power stations and that Chinese construction firms will
be barred from new road projects.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a regular
briefing on Friday hit out at “irresponsible remarks” by Indian
politicians and called for cooperation.
“Frictions between both sides is the wrong way to go, and goes
against the fundamental wishes of the people on both sides,” Zhao
said.
“India should not make a strategic misjudgement on China.”