Under all-round attack, government today told Parliament that not an inch of the country's territory will be ceded to China and the army is free to act in case of any dispute.
Defence Minister A K Antony said capacities, including military capabilities, are rapidly being built along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and China "fears" India is trying to catch up with it, which sometimes results in face-offs between the armies of the two countries.
Rubbishing reports that China had occupied 640km of Indian land in Ladakh, Antony asserted in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha that no territory has been ceded to that country.
He said that with both India and China developing infrastructure along the LAC, the armies of the two countries have come "closer" and "face-to-face", in contrast to the earlier situation when the armies were hundreds of kilometres away.
Antony conceded that China was "superior" in terms of border infrastructure as India, because of the 1962 war, was late in deciding on building roads and other capabilities near the LAC, which he described as a "collective failure".
"It is their fear that India is trying to catch up with them," he said answering questions over the reasons for the rise in incursions by Chinese troops over the last few years.
Indian army is actively patrolling along the LAC, including in Depsang valley, the scene of 21-day face-off in April, the Defence Minister said.
"Sovereignty will not be compromised and we will not compromise and not even an inch will be given to any foreign country," he said speaking on the issue after members from opposition as well as UPA ally Samajwadi Party wanted to know the ground situation on the China border.
