China to be focus at Forces meet

The continuing Chinese military buildup and its repercussions on the Indo-China border are expected to dominate discussions of top Indian military leaders at the Combined Commanders Conference here next week....

The continuing Chinese military buildup and its repercussions on the Indo-China border are expected to dominate discussions of top Indian military leaders at the Combined Commanders Conference here next week.

The upcoming conference gains significance with China going public on its protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The Armed Forces are also set to discuss the rapid pace of infrastructure development on the Chinese side of the border.

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The week-long conference will be attended by the Prime Minister,Defence Minister,National Security Advisor,besides the entire top leadership of the Army,Air Force and Navy.

The Armed Forces are extremely concerned about the sluggish approach to construction of roads and

other infrastructure in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh,which have borne the brunt of repeated transgressions by Chinese troops over the years.

The Army,which earlier this year re-evaluated its threat perception in the Ladakh sector,is keen on the rapid construction of roads in the sector,at times held

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up due to environmental clearances,as well as a rail link to Ladakh via Himachal Pradesh.

The slow pace of defence equipment procurement

will also form part of the discussions. The Armed Forces are particularly concerned about frequent delays and cancellations of tenders that now threaten to erode their conventional edge in the region.