- As you are aware, at the peak of the pandemic when every country was fearing the worst for the safety of their respective citizens, the Indian government had to additionally worry about the unpleasant scenario unfolding on the eastern borders along the line of actual control with China. The clashes involving military personnel from both sides caused the bilateral relationship to take a nosedive with the trust deficit assuming prominence. The military buildup along the LAC prompted the two protagonists to forego usual diplomatic exchanges. Yes, several rounds of diplomatic and military level confabulations did take place yielding little results vis-à-vis thaw or positive outcomes to ease the tension being built courtesy of unending dispute.
PC: South China Morning
- Of course, the diplomatic channels from both sides were at work to arrive at some understanding, ensuring the tension along the LAC eases and paves the way for the resumption of meaningful talks. As such, the recent breakthrough along the LAC is more than welcome but its early days yet to arrive at some conclusion as to whether things will be moving in the right direction. Weeks ahead will bring further clarity to the contours of the patrolling agreement between New Delhi and Beijing, which is expected to set the ball rolling towards disengagement and resolution of issues along LAC and border areas. Relations between the two nations have remained on thin ice, in a state of heightened military preparedness since the 2020 deadly conflict in eastern Ladakh.
- Notwithstanding buffer zones created in the standoff areas, both countries had also fortified their positions with more troops – a constant worry. It’s been four years of one step forward, and two steps back. Coming as it does on the eve of PM Modi’s participation in the Brics summit in Russia, speculation of a Modi-Xi meeting on the sidelines gains some credence. Bilateral talks between the two have been limited to talking disengagement since 2020, even as India has engaged with China consistently on multilateral fora. The step forward has taken over 20 rounds of military negotiations over the last 53 months and any number of multi-level meetings between foreign affairs officials, especially a burst of consultations over the last couple of months.
PC: Scroll
- How did this fructify? Mind you, Beijing as an aggressive unbending adversary is undoubtedly influenced by domestic challenges, especially a slowing economy and the cost of maintaining a highly militarized border. Beijing also no doubt has in its focus New Delhi’s deepening strategic and military ties with Washington and steadily growing defence trade. It certainly has in mind the fact that even pet Islamabad appears to be reaching out to Washington. Pakistan has imploded rather spectacularly frustrating China with its inability to give speed to Xi’s pet CPEC project, and its inability to ensure the security of Chinese workers and infra, both targets of extremism. Given the above, the recent announcement is a very welcome first step to usher in normalcy.
