Photo Caption:-
Left to right - Tarun Vijay, Prof. Shrikanth Kondapalli, Kanwal Sibal, Ambassador Rangachari, Brig Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) and Prof. Bal Apte
Question China's sovereignty on a non-autonomous Tibet, invite Taiwan to strengthen relations - says Kanwal Sibal, former foreign secretary
Increase India's firepower to counter Chinese threat-war can't be ruled out- Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, CLAWS
Former Foreign Secretary, Mr. Kanwal Sibal said that on Chinese front we must learn to react like a Tiger, not to kill but to defend ourselves atleast. Mr. Kanwal Sibal was speaking at a discussion “Tiger v/s Dragon: Prelude to a Showdown?” at the India International Centre Annexe, organized by the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. This discussion attracted a large number of diplomats, scholars with participants from politics, academics and army.
“We should increase strategically relations with Taiwan and also persuade China to talk with Dalai Lama on the issue of Tibbet”, Mr. Kanwal Sibal said and added thatIndia has recognised an autonomous Tibet as part of China not a region full of Chinese military, people and no-autonomous status. Hence it will be just right for Indiato question China's sovereignty on a non-autonomous Tibet.
Former diplomat T.C.A. Rangachari said China needed to be understood on a preferential basis. We have 60 years diplomatic relationship with China but refusal of a visa to an Indian General on the unundestandable premise of his being in control of a Kashmir region, which China recognises as 'disputed'. How can India accept this position?
Prof Srikanth Kondapalli, made a powerful powerpoint presentation to show as to how China is moving forward with a motive to encircle India. He said that since 1949 to 1963, China’s position on Kashmir was in favour of India but after that China favoured Pakistan. China has invested 20 billion $ (approx) in different hydro projects of POK, which shows the clear intention of China.
Brig (retd.) Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, CLAWS (Centre for Land Warfare Studies) pointed out that PLA calls the shots in Chinese governance and it has prepared a long term strategy. Accordingly the next war it would like to fight outside China, and that can be Arunachal Pradesh. He forcely said that in present situation there is a huge gap between Indian Army and PLA. Though presently its more quantitative but if we did not meet the strategic needs of Indian Army then after 15 years this difference will be also qualitative and unbridgeable.
Tarun Vijay, MP (Rajya Sabha), Director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, said: “We gave Buddha to China, China give us Maoists”.
Shri Bala Saheb Apte, president of the Foundation and national vice president of BJP, welcomed the participants. Shri Arun Singh, Trustee of the Foundation, proposed a vote of thanks.
