I - Foreign Affair Commentary on relations between India and China continues to take substantial space in Indian print media. According to experts on New Delhi-Beijing bilateral relations, the Wuhan summit had generated much hope amongst those who want the two countries to develop a closer relationship. But the relationship, according to them, needed much deeper attention than just a summit. The problems between the two countries are too complex, and structural in nature, to go away with summits. They need a web of parleys on different levels between the two countries for the tricky issues to be resolved. Post-Wuhan summit, the two countries are reported to have continued a flurry of activities which are military in nature, having the hallmarks of strategic competition along their common borders. For example, in the aftermath of the Doklam stand-off between the two countries, Beijing is reported to have “beefed up its presence to the north of the standoff site”. In Tibet, China is reported to have expedited work on building strategic expressways, airstrips and heliports.

Similarly, India has matched the same with measures of its own which include ‘planning to deploy Akash missile systems along with attack helicopters and long range fighter aircraft in the eastern sector”. Prime Minister Modi is reported to have recently inaugurated a “railroad bridge at Bogibeel in Assam which will expedite troops movements to Arunachal Pradesh.” Analysts in India have urged New Delhi to continue remaining in a state of preparedness, but never to be the first to escalate tensions with Beijing ..