China is Providing Pakistan with Military Assistance and Equipment and has Repeatedly Exhorted the People's Liberation Army to 'Be Ready to Win a War'

Over the last several months, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have repeatedly exhorted the People's Liberation Army to "be ready to win a war." Xi has repeatedly called for greater military modernization, increased training, and enhanced overall readiness of the Chinese army, navy, and air force. These repeated calls have alarmed China's neighbors from New Delhi to Washington. The question on everyone's mind: what is all this preparation for? Is the Chinese leadership preparing for something? Are they gearing up for a military operation, or merely the option to carry one out? Or is there a more innocent explanation for all of this? [Source]

India has conveyed concern to Beijing over Chinese activities in PoK, govt tells Lok Sabha

December 17, 2014

Times of India - Confirming that a recent BSF report had flagged attention to weapons training exercises conducted by the Chinese troops for Pakistani Army in forward posts located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the government on Tuesday said the information, however, was not corroborated by any intelligence agency.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, recalled that China and Pakistan have termed bilateral defence cooperation as an important component of their strategic cooperation. China, by virtue of this partnership, has been providing Pakistan with military assistance and equipment.

He said the government had, on its part, conveyed to Beijing its consistent position that "Pakistan is in illegal occupation of parts of Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947". Accordingly, it has conveyed its concerns about Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and asked them to cease the same.

"Chinese persons have been visiting Pakistan for conducting acceptance tests on the military equipment supplied by them and subsequently training Pakistani soldiers on the same. Both countries regularly hold joint exercises between their Armies, Navies and Air Forces," Rijiju told the MPs during the Question Hour on Tuesday.

According to Rijiju, China has also said that it regards Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled between India and Pakistan.

"Government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it," he added.

According to the BSF report submitted to national security advisor Ajit Doval in November, Chinese troops were reportedly conducting weapons training exercises for Pakistan army at some posts in PoK adjoining Rajouri in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chinese army trainers, spotted in some Pakistani forward posts in the area of 3rd and 4th PoK brigades opposite the Rajouri sector, were imparting weapons handling training to their Pakistani counterparts. However, the report did not give details regarding the weapons.