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| India and China launch war games | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| India and China have begun a joint military exercise, the first of its kind between the two largest armies in the world. | |
| The exercise is taking place between 20 and 28 December in China's south-western province of Yunnan. | |
| It will involve a company of troops from each nation - just over 100 officers and men. | |
| India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in October 1962 over a disputed Himalayan frontier. | India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in October 1962 over a disputed Himalayan frontier. |
| The situation eased after the two countries signed a treaty for peace and tranquillity in 1993, agreeing to reduce troop levels on the borders. | The situation eased after the two countries signed a treaty for peace and tranquillity in 1993, agreeing to reduce troop levels on the borders. |
| Nearly 100 Indian soldiers have arrived in China for the exercise codenamed Hand in Hand 2007, says the BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta. | |
| 'Three evil forces' | |
| "The joint training is aimed at enhancing understanding and mutual trust between Chinese and Indian armies and strengthening their exchanges in the anti-terror areas," a statement issued by the foreign office of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence said. | |
| "It is also aimed at deterring the 'three evil forces' - separatists, extremists and terrorists - and promoting the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity between China and India." | |
| These troops have been picked up from forces fighting insurgencies in restive north-eastern India and Indian-administered Kashmir, reports said. | These troops have been picked up from forces fighting insurgencies in restive north-eastern India and Indian-administered Kashmir, reports said. |
| Indian forces are carrying their personal weapons, light machine guns and mortars. The armoury - tanks, helicopter gunships and unmanned aerial vehicles - are being provided by the Chinese army. | Indian forces are carrying their personal weapons, light machine guns and mortars. The armoury - tanks, helicopter gunships and unmanned aerial vehicles - are being provided by the Chinese army. |
| Analysts say the exercise will bolster ties between the two countries. | |
| Indian troops have a long-standing border dispute with China | |
| "It will definitely help strengthen the mutual trust between the two countries, and the militaries in particular, given that they have an episode of unpleasant history," Sun Shihai, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the BBC. | |
| Swaran Singh, associate professor at the School of International Studies at New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, said: "This reflects the growing mutual trust and understanding between the two sides, including between their military establishments." | |
| Ties between the two countries remained tense after the brief war in 1962. | Ties between the two countries remained tense after the brief war in 1962. |
| 'Intrusions' | |
| During an Indian high altitude military exercise called Operation Chequerboard in 1987, the two armies nearly went to war again. | During an Indian high altitude military exercise called Operation Chequerboard in 1987, the two armies nearly went to war again. |
| In between, both sides patrolled the desolate frontier aggressively and skirmishes were not infrequent. | In between, both sides patrolled the desolate frontier aggressively and skirmishes were not infrequent. |
| India and China signed an agreement on defence cooperation in May 2006 during the visit of former Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to China. | India and China signed an agreement on defence cooperation in May 2006 during the visit of former Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to China. |
| Since then the two countries have been sending officers to each other's military institutions for training, and military delegations have been visiting each other on a regular basis. | |
| Last year, China agreed to reopen the strategic Nathu La pass to border trade, thereby accepting Sikkim as a part of India. | Last year, China agreed to reopen the strategic Nathu La pass to border trade, thereby accepting Sikkim as a part of India. |
| Around 100 Indian soldiers are taking part | |
| But in the last year China appeared to be uncomfortable with India's growing strategic ties with US, cemented through a series of joint exercises, including the huge five nation naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, this year. | But in the last year China appeared to be uncomfortable with India's growing strategic ties with US, cemented through a series of joint exercises, including the huge five nation naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, this year. |
| In recent months, Indian border forces reported more and more Chinese "intrusions" across the disputed border even as Beijing stepped up its rhetoric on the disputed frontier, reiterating its claims to the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. | In recent months, Indian border forces reported more and more Chinese "intrusions" across the disputed border even as Beijing stepped up its rhetoric on the disputed frontier, reiterating its claims to the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Analysts say visit of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi to China last month has helped put the bilateral relations back on the right track, and China appears to be no longer objecting to the India-US nuclear deal that had initially upset it. | Analysts say visit of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi to China last month has helped put the bilateral relations back on the right track, and China appears to be no longer objecting to the India-US nuclear deal that had initially upset it. |