Chinese Defence Minister General Liang gifts cash to IAF pilots?

Anil Narendra

Chinese Minister of Defence, on his recent visit to India, did something unexpected. In a very surprising move, the Chinese Minister of Defence, General Liang Guanglie handed over envelopes to Indian pilots of the planes that had ferried him from Mumbai to New Delhi as a token of appreciation of their services containing one lakh rupees. Keeping the diplomatic sensitivity in mind, the money, was however, not returned, but as per the government rules, it was deposited in the government treasury. According to the Indian Air Force sources, the visiting dignitary gave a packet to the Captain of the plain as gift. After the departure of the Chinese Defence Minister, when the envelopment was opened, it was found to contain cash. The matter was reported to the high authorities. It is a customary for visiting dignitaries to present mementos as a token of their appreciation for the services rendered to them and such mementos are also to the pilots during domestic flights. But, Chinese traditions in such matters are difficult to tell about. So, keeping the sensitivities of relations and of the particular incident, the amount was not returned. It is interesting to note that after giving cash gifts of each to the two IAF pilots, the Chinese Defence Minister wanted to give similar gifts to the IAF band who had played at the reception given in his honour by the Indian Minister of Defence, AK Antony. According to sources, the Indian side persuaded him not to offer such gift, as there is no such tradition in India. This happened on 4^th September, when General Liang was visiting the IAF Officers’ Aakash Mess near India Gate. During the reception being held in his honour, the IAF band played Hindi and Chinese songs, which were quite appreciated by the Chinese guests. The sources told that no gift was given to the IAF band after the programme by the Chinese side.

Was it a mistake on the part of the General or was it a deliberate act? Indian security officials and experts believe that it was not a mistake, but was to test the intentions of the pilots. They wanted to test whether Indian pilots could succumb to graft and could be used for spying in future? Are our pilots susceptible to grafts? In spite of strengthening trust between the two countries, such incidents would rather deepen the distrust. It is not a secret that China adopts all type of cunning tricks to achieve its goal. Sometimes, as a test case, they throw baits to see if the other side could be used to their advantage in future. The Chinese are very calculating and do everything after enough deliberation. We are not ready to accept that it was an innocent mistake. China can never be a friend to India. It is always conniving to encircle India. It has already Pakistan in its grips. Pakistan is helping China to infiltrate into Kashmir and to occupy parts of Kashmir. It has been reminding India of 1962 Indo-China war every now and then. India must remain very alert towards it. It would not lose any opportunity to sting it.