India improving infrastructure and military capability on border with China: Defence Minister

New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Expressing concern over Chinese military infrastructure buildup, Defence Minister A K Antony today said India was working to match it to protect the country's territory and build an effective deterrence. "China is expanding its military capabilities and their infrastructure in the border area is also increasing substantially and we are concerned about that," he said. 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. 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 India's then Northern Army Commander last year,the country 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. PTI