- The global community is well aware of the intransigence, aggressive, and scant disregard exhibited by the Chinese communist leadership over the last few years towards maintaining international harmony. It is observed with concern that China simply does not care about others even if it means blatantly going against the established world order. No wonder, the bullying tactics adopted by the Dragon nation have not only riled several countries but also irked some of the most advanced nations, including the United States of America. We all know how China’s failed attempt to usurp the land along the line of actual control of eastern Ladakh forced the Indian security establishment to strengthen with thousands of troops and ammunition.
PC: DW
- Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks to pull back the troops from the forward positions, nothing much materialized on the ground as both sides stood their grounds assiduously. With Galway incursions still boiling, the Chinese attempted to usurp Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 09. This is a near replay of the Galwan clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. As reported, between 300 to 400 Chinese soldiers tried to unilaterally change the status quo of the LAC in this Arunachal sector. However, the Chinese were firmly resisted by the Indian troops in the area as stated by the Union Government. Resulting physical scuffles led to injuries on both sides but no fatalities.
- The latest infraction again goes to show that China won’t give up on salami slicing Indian territory along the LAC. It is determined to unilaterally push the LAC westward and is no longer interested in engaging in serious dialogue to resolve the border issue. Two things need to be noted here. The Galwan clashes occurred at the height of the Covid pandemic when there was intense scrutiny of the Xi administration’s handling of the novel virus. Now that China is beginning to drawdown its ill-advised zero-Covid strategy, again there are serious skirmishes. In between a PLA officer who had taken part in the Galwan clashes was made a torchbearer in the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year, and footage of the clashes was played during the Communist Party Congress.
PC: Brig Anil Gupta
- This shows that the Xi administration is openly owning up to PLA’s transgressions along the LAC both for political and strategic purposes. It’s no coincidence that the Tawang clashes happened just days after India and the US held military exercises close to the LAC. It’s an open secret how the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region are being pursued aggressively by China. As such, New Delhi should remain firm on its territorial-maritime position. Note that China only understands strength. Thus, New Delhi should do more to buttress its infrastructure along the entire LAC. Indeed, closing the border infrastructure gap with China is of paramount importance to secure India’s territorial sovereignty. There cannot be any compromise on this matter.
