NEW DELHI, JAN 12 (DNA) – India will handle China s growing assertiveness and has stepped up patrols on their disputed border to head off more standoffs, the country s top army officer declared Friday.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have in the past gone to war over their border and last year were involved in a showdown over a Himalayan plateau claimed by China and Bhutan which is an ally of India.

“We understand China is a powerful country but we are not a weak nation,” Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat told a press conference when asked about the border dispute.

“We have increased our troop levels… we have increased our patrolling intensity. We are capable of handling China s assertiveness.

“We will not allow our territory to be invaded upon. Whenever intrusions take place we will defend because that s there in our charter.”

Hundreds of Chinese and Indian troops faced off last year on the Doklam plateau, a small strip close to the intersection between China, India and Bhutan.

Rawat said Indian soldiers crossed into foreign territory during the standoff but only because Chinese forces had “big equipment and they meant business”.