Drone crash: China wants Delhi to correct "bad manners" or face consequences
ET Online|
Dec 09, 2017, 04.12 PM IST
Though India has said one of its Israeli-made Heron drones had crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Sikkim sector and crashed in Chinese territory ahead of North Sikkim following a technical problem, an upset China says it was an unnecessary provocation.
Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times has demanded an apology from India in an editorial. "The intrusion took place at the same location where a standoff broke off not too long ago between the Chinese and Indian militaries. In a time and at a location so sensitive, both sides should have avoided acting in ways that the other might perceive as provocative to prevent new frictions arising. But India clearly did not behave itself," it said.
From the tone of the editorial it's clear China is fuming at the Indian attempts to get back the drone. "Indian media reported Friday that India is asking China through diplomatic channels to return the drone. The statement by the Indian defense ministry barely mentioned the intrusion, with no hint of an apology. We believe that this is not the time for India to make such a request. India needs to first correct its attitude by admitting the intrusion was wrong. It needs to apologize to China and promise no such incident will ever happen again," the Global Times wrote.
The exact cause of the incident is under investigation, according to the Ministry of Defence. However, sources say that possibility of the drone being shot down or there being an "electronic take over" of it could not be ruled out. However, such a thing would be difficult, because of its tough electronic countermeasures.
Sources explained that in high altitude areas sometimes there is a "break in the communication link", which could be a reason to the UAV losing contact.
However, Global Times wrote that it was upto the Chinese to investigate and find the truth.
"India is not the side which gets to decide how that drone came to cross into Chinese territory. The Chinese side's investigation will determine how Beijing deals with the incident. If India wants to improve relations, it should cooperate with the investigation," it wrote.
It also issued an open warning to India: "If China is certain that the Indian military sent a drone into Chinese territory with hostile intentions and New Delhi keeps up its bad manners, the consequences will be far worse than losing a drone."
Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times has demanded an apology from India in an editorial. "The intrusion took place at the same location where a standoff broke off not too long ago between the Chinese and Indian militaries. In a time and at a location so sensitive, both sides should have avoided acting in ways that the other might perceive as provocative to prevent new frictions arising. But India clearly did not behave itself," it said.
From the tone of the editorial it's clear China is fuming at the Indian attempts to get back the drone. "Indian media reported Friday that India is asking China through diplomatic channels to return the drone. The statement by the Indian defense ministry barely mentioned the intrusion, with no hint of an apology. We believe that this is not the time for India to make such a request. India needs to first correct its attitude by admitting the intrusion was wrong. It needs to apologize to China and promise no such incident will ever happen again," the Global Times wrote.
The exact cause of the incident is under investigation, according to the Ministry of Defence. However, sources say that possibility of the drone being shot down or there being an "electronic take over" of it could not be ruled out. However, such a thing would be difficult, because of its tough electronic countermeasures.
Sources explained that in high altitude areas sometimes there is a "break in the communication link", which could be a reason to the UAV losing contact.
However, Global Times wrote that it was upto the Chinese to investigate and find the truth.
"India is not the side which gets to decide how that drone came to cross into Chinese territory. The Chinese side's investigation will determine how Beijing deals with the incident. If India wants to improve relations, it should cooperate with the investigation," it wrote.
It also issued an open warning to India: "If China is certain that the Indian military sent a drone into Chinese territory with hostile intentions and New Delhi keeps up its bad manners, the consequences will be far worse than losing a drone."
