India Boosts Infrastructure Budget on China Border Post-2014: Minister Jaishankar

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th April. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Friday that India’s budget for infrastructure along the border with China saw a significant increase after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

Jaishankar claimed that India should have learned lessons from the 1962 war, but there was no progress in developing border infrastructure until 2014. He mentioned that the Modi government raised the budget for this purpose from ₹3,500 crore to ₹14,500 crore.

During an event titled “Why Bharat Matters: Opportunity for Youth and Participation in the Global Scenario,” Jaishankar emphasized the need for India to have a realistic, grounded, and practical policy towards China.

He highlighted the historical context, mentioning that China occupied Tibet in 1950, and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel expressed concerns about India’s policy towards China to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Patel warned against taking China’s assurances at face value, but Nehru dismissed these concerns, believing that China had no ill intentions towards India.

Jaishankar pointed out the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating mistakes. He noted that from 1957 to 1962, while China was building roads and preparing for war, India was focused on non-alignment and ideological relations with China.

He criticized the lack of progress in border infrastructure development with China from 1962 to 2014, mentioning a former defense minister’s view that leaving the border undeveloped was the best defense strategy. However, under Modi’s leadership, the budget for infrastructure along the China border increased from ₹3,500 crore to ₹14,500 crore.

Jaishankar also highlighted the economic challenges posed by China, emphasizing the need for India to focus on manufacturing and technological advancement to compete effectively.

He expressed the importance of India’s self-reliance in various sectors, including vaccine production, space exploration, infrastructure development, and technology advancement, to compete with China and other nations.

Jaishankar emphasized the need for clarity in India’s approach towards China, stating that India aims for stable borders without conflict. He mentioned the importance of adhering to agreements between the two nations and India’s readiness to respond to any pressure or attempts to destabilize the border.

Prime Minister Modi also stressed the significance of addressing border issues with China to normalize bilateral interactions and move past the current challenges in the relationship.