A mining project on the Chinese side of territory disputed with India is drawing international interest, with some reportedly speculating that developments could turn the area into “another South China Sea.”
The mining activity is unprecedented in scale, according to a report in The South China Morning Post on Sunday, following years of investment in infrastructure in the area, which Chinese state geologists say is home to some US$60 billion in precious metals.
The location of the project, Lhunze County, lies just outside territory claimed both by China as South Tibet, and by India as part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The SCMP report cited experts familiar with the project as saying that the mines are part of Beijing’s designs to reclaim what it refers to as South Tibet.
The article quoted a professor at China University of Geosciences, Zheng Youye, who was the lead scientist for a Beijing-funded survey of minerals in the Himalayas, as saying “this is similar to what has happened in the South China Sea.”
Another source cited in the report, Hao Xiaoguang, a “senior government specialist in China-India disputes in South Tibet,” echoed this sentiment.
“What China achieved today in the South China Sea was almost unthinkable a decade ago. I am optimistic what will happen in the Himalayas in the coming years because President Xi has made it clear that ‘not a single inch of our land will be or can be ceded from China’, which definitely includes South Tibet,” Hao was quoted as saying.
Chinese state-owned Global Times pushed back on the report, suggesting it was erroneous, saying on Monday that “the Chinese expert the Hong Kong-based newspaper quoted told the Global Times on Sunday that he did not mention the South China Sea at all.”
The Global Times article did not specify which of the two Chinese experts cited by SCMP – both of which compared the disputed territory to the South China Sea – denied the quote. While the Global Times did not identify which source they had spoken to, they reported that the person was very angry to have been mischaracterized in the SCMP article.
The prospects of China stepping up efforts to reclaim territory it considers its own on another front is not the only potential flashpoint in the mountainous region. China is purportedly planning a giant tunnel that could one day divert water from the mountains in Tibet to Xinjiang – water which now flows downstream through India and Bangladesh.
While China and India continue to make strident efforts to find areas of cooperation, it looks as though rocky roads in the Himalayas still lie ahead.
Rubbish propaganda. It is clearly chinese territory and the project will help develop the area and benefit the local citizens.
How can US demand other countries to stop the development of nuclear armement when they are doing the same – not only Iran US also naturing Terrorist organisations and using them to disrupt other countries -So these guys have no right to demand and command
Well said bhai..Chinese mindset is like a cancer in 21st century greedy at its highest point.. i think someday they rialized that China against the world lets wait and see someday for the devine entervention for what they are doing always.
China better realise they cannot buy corrupt governments forever as Malaysia would soon prove. Economic prosperity is not a given, forever again. Even if China conquer Indian parts, it would remain a constant irritant and even undermine china’s political stability.
better name this page india times. news should be balanced and try level best to describe actual situation rather than spread propaganda.
At least our kings fought British to keep their throne. what you guys did ? Leased your land and now fighting internally for Separate country .what a pity !
China’s unsatiable thirst for mineral resources leads to disrespect international laws and legal rights of other countries.
Lhunze county is clearly north of Mc Mahon line . A part of Tibet means PRC. China has got every right to explore its natural resources and nobody can stop her in doing so.
India could have been a big brother in the region had he ceded its big brotherly attitude. Another problem is Norendra Modi who has been the root cause of scaring people. Hindu nationalism spearheaded by Modi will not yield good harvest to India at length.
India has problem with all south Asian countries a typical raj mentality inherited from British empire. But will see the fate of empire if persistent to continue the same path
Ashish Bhurtel ji, you are hundred percent right.
Foolish china not only island grabber but also land grabber !!!