BEIJING – India’s “provocations” on the border with China will “destroy”the foundation of mutual trust and undermine bilateral ties, a Chineseanalyst said. The statement comes after top Indian Army officials told PTIthat the Indian troops have been deployed along the disputed Sino-Indiaborder in the Himalayan range to increase their patrolling at atri-junction of India, China and Myanmar to prevent a repeat of aDoklam-like standoff.

Reacting to India’s increased deployment of troops along the border, ZhaoGancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies, claimed that India’s “provocations” onthe border will “destroy” the foundation of mutual trust and underminebilateral ties.

“India keeps enhancing its military deployment along the border because ithas never believed the border region will become peaceful,” Zhao was quotedas saying by the Global Times yesterday.

“India thinks that border conflicts with China will eventually happen,”Zhao said.

“India’s provocations will destroy mutual trust and aggravate the delicateregional situation,” Zhao added. The mutual military distrust willultimately undermine Sino-Indian relations in all sectors includingdiplomacy, economy and cultural exchanges, he said.

The Indian officials said the tri-junction, located around 50km fromWalong, the easternmost town of India near the Tibet region, is extremelyimportant for India to help it maintain its dominance in the nearbymountain passes and other areas.

A senior Indian Army official said Chinese troops did not enter thetri-junction too frequently but had developed a road infrastructure nearthe area which could be advantageous for the mobilisation of army personnel.

Troops of India and China were previously locked in a 73-day-long standoffin Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the buildingof a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended onAugust 28.

The area in Doklam where China tried to construct a road is a disputedterritory claimed by both China and Bhutan. India sent its troops to stopthe Chinese construction activity, saying it could be a threat to itsstrategic interests in the region. Since the Doklam standoff, India hasdeployed more troops and increased patrolling along the borders with Chinain the Tibetan region.