Doklam

Chinese military conducted live-fire exercises

NEW DELHI: China's state-backed media has taken warmongering to the next level and is now threatening confrontation in not justbut in other areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as well.China's hardline Global Times declared that Beijing "doesn't recognize the land under the actual control of India is Indian territory" and indicated that China could take "further countermeasures" along the LAC.In fact, Beijing has already signalled its intentions toward a multi-front show of strength.On Friday, thein Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region , state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported. The brigade that conducted the drills was from the PLA's Tibet Military Command, which guards the LAC along several sections connecting the mountainous Tibetan region.This latest India-China standoff though began in Doklam , in the Sikkim sector, after China violated the border into the area, which is in Bhutanese territory, and started building a road there in mid-June. And far from backing down, Global Times is urging Beijing to go full steam ahead with construction there, in addition to the "countermeasures" along the LAC."China must continue strengthening border construction and speed up troop deployment and construction in the Doklam area. These are legitimate actions of a sovereign country," said a Global Times article.The publication - run by the country's Communist Party - then said Beijing "doesn't fear going to war to safeguard sovereignty either, and will make itself ready for a long-term confrontation."China can take further countermeasures along the Line of Actual Control. If India stirs up conflicts in several spots, it must face the consequence of an all-out confrontation with China along the entire LAC," it said.The Chinese state-backed publication also said deploying resources in remote border areas will lead to the economic growth of these regions, "as well as to safeguarding integration of China's territory".Already, "...road and rail in the Tibetan area have been extended close to the border area with India, Nepal and Bhutan", the article said.