China, India sign no aggression treaty
India and China on Friday took a historic
step by committing themselves against launching military
attacks on each other and agreed not to cross the line of actual
control along their common border.
These decisions are part of a series of confidence building
military measures agreed upon by the two countries at
the end of 90-minute official talks between Prime Minister H D Deve
Gowda and Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister I K Gujral
and Chinese Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen in Deve
Gowda and Jiang's presence at a simple ceremony in
Hyderabad House.
Three other agreements were also signed on maintenance of an
Indian consulate-general in Hong Kong after it passes into Chinese
hands in June, co-operation in curbing drug trafficking
and on maritime transport.
In his opening remarks, Deve Gowda described the confidence
building measures agreement as a major step forward.
He said it was built on the foundation of the 1993 agreement on
maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border.
The two countries were also working on a fifth agreement on
investment protection, but it could not be finalised.
The 12-article agreement on confidence building measures also
stipulates that the two countries will reduce or limit their
respective military forces within mutually agreed geographical
zones along the LAC.
India and China also agreed to reduce the number of field army,
border defence forces, paramilitary forces and any other mutually
agreed category of armed force deployed.
The major categories of armaments to be reduced are: Combat
tanks, infantry combat vehicles, guns including howitzers with 70
mm or bigger calibre, mortars with 120 mm or bigger calibre,
surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles and any other
weapon system.
The two sides will exchange data on the military forces and
armaments to be reduced and to be kept within the agreed zones.
It was also agreed to avoid holding largescale military
exercises involving more than one division (approximately 5,000
troops) in close proximity of the LAC, prior notification should be
given to the other side.
The agreement provides that the sides will take adequate measures
to prevent any air intrusions along the LAC.
It lays down that combat aircraft -- including fighter, bomber,
reconnaissance, military trainers, armed helicopters and other armed
aircraft -- would not fly within ten kilometers of the LAC.
In case, such flights are to be operated, advance information
should be given.
The agreement stipulates that unarmed aircraft, surveyor aircraft
and helicopters will be permitted to fly up to the LAC, but no military
aircraft will be allowed to fly across the LAC except with prior
permission.
The agreement will remain valid until either side decides to terminate
it after giving six months notice in writing.
UNI
The text of the Treaty
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