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Michel Garroté – Terming India's proposal of "massive up-gradation" of defence infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border as "bold moves", Beijing on Thursday said it implied that New Delhi was "starting to treat China as a de facto competitor". Calling it India's repositioning of its national security strategy, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it would be the largest such mobilisation since the Sino-Indian border clashes of 1962.

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Reacting for the first time to reports of Indian defence infrastructure up-gradation, the PLA daily said within five years, India is set to deploy 90,000 more soldiers and raise four new divisions along its borders with China. The Chinese military daily also noted that India was in the final phase of choosing a new fighter for its air force in what is said to be the world's largest defence deal. Referring to New Delhi's decision in October to deploy BrahMos cruise missiles against China, the Chinese military daily said this would be "the first time it has taken such a step with offensive tactical missiles".

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India is also pushing for its first joint air force and naval exercises with Japan, which Indian defense minister revealed during his visit to Japan last week, said the Chinese military daily. There were also discussions proposing trilateral dialogue involving India, US and Japan that experts said were aimed at keeping China in check and Beijing has not commented on the matter,said the Chinese military daily.

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Michel Garroté

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