New Delhi, August 28: Questions are being raised about China’s role in the devastating floods and destruction in Nepal. Retired Major General and defense expert PK Sehgal stated that if China had issued a timely and transparent early warning, the damage could have been significantly reduced. He noted that social media users in Nepal are openly holding China accountable for the disaster.
Sehgal claimed that China’s extensive construction projects, dams, river diversion initiatives, tunneling, and new road construction have severely impacted the fragile Himalayan ecology. He mentioned that even Chinese engineers had warned against such activities, but these concerns were ignored by the Chinese establishment.
Regarding the disaster in Nepal, Sehgal emphasized, “There is no doubt that the tragedy in Nepal, which has caused significant devastation, could have been mitigated if China had issued an early warning in a timely and transparent manner, which it failed to do. Additionally, social media users in Nepal are openly blaming China for this situation.”
He further asserted that the disaster in Nepal was a direct result of China’s projects. The retired general explained, “Due to China’s massive construction activities, the local ecology, which is already extremely fragile, has been severely affected. Even Chinese engineers advised against large-scale construction, dam building, river diversion projects, tunneling, and new road construction in these delicate areas, warning that it would be harmful. Concerns were also raised by decision-makers in China, but these were disregarded by the Chinese establishment.”
In relation to India’s plan to acquire the Javelin anti-tank system, tested in combat by the United States, Sehgal remarked, “Firstly, India clearly understands that Pakistan and China could launch a coordinated attack. Both possess sufficient tank capabilities. Currently, India is facing a significant shortage of anti-tank guided missiles.”
He added that to address this shortfall, India has been trying to procure the Javelin anti-tank weapon system from the United States for some time, but progress had been slow. However, recent statements from the U.S. Ambassador to India suggest that progress is being made in this direction, indicating that a political decision has been reached, which means these anti-tank missiles could soon arrive in India.
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