A Sunday commentary in Xinhua, the government-owned Chinese news agency, accused India of following a policy of "expansionism" in the 1962 war and starting a "large-scale war of invasion against China. It went on to add that after independence, New Delhi had "occupied some 90,000 sq. km of Chinese territories between the traditional line in the eastern section of its borders and the illegal McMahon line."

But even as the Prime Minister's political advisor Pramod mahajan was rejecting Beijing's charges today, calling them "historically incorrect," a certain degree of nervousness seemed to have permeated the foreign office.

According to some accounts, New Delhi may not have thought through its anti-China tirade over the last month, culminating in Vajpayee's letter toClinton last week, which cited the Chinese threat as India's reasons for going nuclear.

One view is that if China decides to stoke insurgency in the North-East or steps up trouble on the undemarcated border, India's armed forces, already stretched in Kashmir and elsewhere, will find it tough to cope with the additional pressure.

Leading observers have asked if India is ready to deal with the new, emerging nexus between China and Pakistan, the ground for which is likely being prepared by the current visit by Pakistani Foreign minister Shamshad Ahmad. It is also being rumoured that Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif may visit Beijing himself over this weekend.

These analysts pointed out that even if hawks in the US like Henry Kissinger did not want the Clinton administration to take a tough view with India over its newfound nuclear status, Washington's love fest with Beijing was too far gone to pull back just because of New Delhi's fears. Clinton's visit to Beijing, in fact, begins in less than twoweeks.

Nevertheless, Mahajan was his usual cheery self today, debunking the Xinhua line. As far as capturing territory in the 1962 war was concerned, he said, "the boot is on the other foot. We never initiated a war against any country. The Chinese did that in 1962 and are still in possession of thousands of sq. km of our land. It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black." Mahajan added that the charge amounted to a thief calling the policeman a robber.

Last week after the first nuclear tests, the Chinese government had accused India of trying to impose "hegemony" in South Asia, leading one analyst to say that Beijing was for the first time feeling "insecure" about its primary role in Asia.

"When the US starts reflecting on its long-term strategic interests in this region," this analyst said, "it will see that India as a nuclear power will move towards restoring the balance of power in Asia. That will only happen if we start embedding China," he added.

The foreign office is divided in its view onhow to play the China card, some believing it is not worthwhile to anger the slowly awakening giant, especially since India is not prepared to face the consequences. The contrary view is that India must squarely face up to the Chinese threat. This body of opinion seems to be banking upon the anti-Chinese lobby in the US, which feels that in the long run it is in Washington's interest to deal with a democracy like India rather than a dictatorship like China.

Meanwhile, the Chinese media today continued its attack on India's nuclear status, reiterating that New Delhi was seeking to ``barge into the nuclear club and seek regional hegemony.'' Xinhua last night issued another commentary, saying India was going to attack China and other neighbours.