China may assert itself but India will protect its rights:Raju

New Delhi, Sep 16 (PTI) China's contention over its
rights in the South China Sea and reported incursions by its
troops in Ladakh in the north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir
could be its way of asserting itself but India will protect
its rights "strongly", Indian Minister of State for Defence M
M Pallam Raju said Friday.
"I think like any nation which wants to assert its right,
I guess China is trying to do its bit... As a country, we are
very clear about our rights and interests. We will protect our
interests very strongly," Raju told reporters here.
The Minister was asked to comment on the recent
incursions by Chinese troops in Ladakh and the objection
raised by it over oil exploration by Indian companies in South
China sea on the sidelines of a Navy function.
Asked if the Government was scared of China, Raju said,
"As a country, we will do whatever it takes to protect our
interests... there is no reticence."
Urging the media to focus on the positives of relations
between India and China, he said, "We have great economic
engagement with China which is growing and we have to focus on
positives."
Raju said the two countries had differences in perception
over the demarcation of the Line of Actual Control dividing
them and were engaged in a dialogue to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, replying to a query on an alleged scam in the
Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) under the Defence
Ministry, he said, "Whatever report has been given to us, we
are looking into irregularities."
On the age issue of Army Chief Gen V K Singh, he said, "I
think that has been answered in a Parliamentary question. This
is not an issue for public debate but an internal matter which
we is being looked into. Everybody is dealing with it in a
dignified manner."