The Minister made these remarks when asked about India`s response to Chinese military modernization in the Eastern and Northern sectors. "We have been improving our infrastructure and military capabilities in the eastern sector. We are strengthening our military capability and infrastructure not for confrontation, but to protect our territory and also to build an effective deterrence...so that we can protect every inch of Indian territory," Antony said.
India has been deploying its frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKIs on its airbases along the Chinese border in the North-East and has raised two Mountain Divisions there. Ultra light howitzers and tanks under new armoured formations are also planned to be deployed in the region.
Asked about the existing defence ties with China, Antony said the Defence Secretary-level talks between the two sides will be held next year. "Defence exchanges with China are again resuming. I hope the defence dialogue - between the two nations - at the Defence Secretary-level will again resume next years," Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of Fifth South Asia Conference here.
India and China will hold the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) in January next year during which the two sides are expected to discuss resumption of their joint army exercise and the pending border issues between them.
Replying to queries on improving defence exchanges with China, he said, "That discussions including the one on border management are going on. India and China agreed to set up a new mechanism - for border management - and that mechanism may also take place very soon, may be towards the end of this year."
After a freeze in defence ties over denial of visa to the then Northern Army Commander last year, India resumed defence exchanges with China by sending a military delegation headed by a Major General in June this year. Earlier this month, China also sent a delegation headed by a Lieutenant General to visit Defence installations in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
To a query on China establishing diplomatic relations with Maldives, Antony said, "How can you prevent any country from establishing an embassy or furthering relations with any other country in the world."
Terming it as a natural process to establish relations with other countries, he said, "We are also establishing embassies and building relations with every country. It is a natural process."
Expanding its presence in the Indian Ocean region, China recently opened its embassy in Maldives and sought an observer status in the SAARC grouping. So far only India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh have an established diplomatic presence in the Maldives.