Advertisement
X

India-China Border Protocol Can바카라t Work Without A Political Will

Though China is in the mood to continue its saber-rattling, no one is expecting a full-scale war. China바카라s end game is difficult to fathom.

The old mechanism of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the India-China border has broken down. The latest blood-letting in the Galwan Valley, which ironically took place while the disengagement process was on, is a stark reminder that the old methods can no longer work.

Five bilateral agreements signed between India and China in 1993, 1996, 2005, 2012 and 2013 have served their purpose. Some suggest a new border protocol, putting in additional clauses to build an iron-clad mechanism.

However, many former diplomats say that the clutch of existing agreements can still deliver. What is needed is to follow the procedures laid down. 바카라By and large, they have helped to maintain peace though there have been aberrations now and then,바카라바카라 said Ashok Kantha, former ambassador to China.

바카라There needs to be greater clarity on the LAC. Earlier maps were exchanged so that both sides were aware of their respective positions. However, since 2002, China refused to give us their maps.바카라바카라

At Thursday바카라s briefing, MEA spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava, emphasised the need to adhere to the existing agreements.

But are the Chinese in the mood to abide by bilateral agreements? 바카라All the five agreements have been rubbished by the Chinese,바카라바카라  says defense analyst Praveen Sawhney. That means the People바카라s Liberation Army discarded the protocol when they advanced into Indian territory.

According to the latest satellite images, the PLA troops are back in Galwan and reportedly digging in and building structures. They have advanced into Indian territory in Depsang. The Inflection points besides these two areas are Pangong Tso, Demchok, and Daulat Beg Oldi.

At the same time, China continues to observe the diplomatic niceties and make the right noises at virtual bilateral meetings. The 15th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on Wednesday.

At the end of the discussions, New Delhi released a statement which said that the two sides discussed in detail the developments in the India-China border areas. 바카라The Indian side conveyed its concerns on the recent developments in Eastern Ladakh, including on the violent face-off in Galwan Valley area on 15th June that had resulted in casualties. In this regard, it was emphasized that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control.바카라바카라

Advertisement

On the same day as these virtual talks were held, China바카라s defence ministry spokesman said: 바카라China has sovereignty over Galwan valley. For many years Chinese border guards have been patrolling and performing their duties here.바카라바카라

The foreign office reiterated this view. 바카라In the presence of China바카라s diplomatic representations and military pressure, India originally agreed to withdraw its personnel who crossed the LAC and dismantled the facilities it built across the line as China demanded.바카라바카라 This is China바카라s claim.

Clearly, China is in no mood to compromise and is bent on getting Indian territory. It is now shifting goalposts and claiming areas which it had not done for several decades. In fact the last time China laid claim to Galwan was in  November 1959. The late premier Zhou Enlai in a letter written to Jawaharlal Nehru mentioned it. But in the intervening years, this was never raised not until now.

Advertisement

China바카라s current strong-armed tactics fall into a pattern. The fresh claims on Ladakh are in keeping with Beijing바카라s territorial action over islands in the South China Sea, around the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. China바카라s growing military and economic clout have made it the pre-eminent power in Asia. Beijing is now competing with the US for dominance. President Xi Jinping now believes it is time for China to assert itself. Well aware that the US is hoping to build India as a bulwark against China in Asia, Xi is possibly sending a message to India: we share a border and we can activate the border at will.

Though China is in the mood to continue its saber-rattling, no one is expecting a full-scale war. China바카라s end game is difficult to fathom.

Until the boundary between India and China is fixed, the situation will continue to simmer. Nearly 22 rounds of border talks between the two countries have not led to a permanent solution. Meanwhile, it is time for India to take a hard look at its China policy.

Advertisement
Show comments
KR