- The Galwan incident courtesy of China’s uncalled-for aggressiveness, overt ambitions, and scant disregard for the rules-based international order has been laid bare over the last year-and-a-half is stating the obvious. The world community is also cognizant of the evolving situation as several countries have not minced words in condemning such a unilateral move. Kudos to our brave soldiers who are holding fort despite encountering extremely adverse weather conditions as well as the enemy in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation along the borders. The Indian establishment has initiated few decisive measures unlike in the past by shedding reluctance as well as the hitherto soft-glove approach which defined our earlier strategy towards the Dragon Nation.
PC: RAJAT NAGPAL
- A case in point is the recent statement made by the Foreign Minister that China has violated written agreements by amassing forces along the line of actual control (LAC) is right on the button. The 1993 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LAC enjoins both parties to refrain from using or threatening force against the other, keep their military forces at the border to a minimum, and strictly respect the LAC pending a final solution to the boundary question. Note that China has flouted each one of these clauses and sought to unilaterally change the status quo along the border.
- Its forces continue to intrude upon Indian territory in eastern Ladakh with impunity and since the Galwan clashes, Beijing has kept the whole LAC active. Remember, China today is also very different from what it was in 1993. Under Xi Jinping, it no longer feels the need to hide its strength and bide its time and is openly challenging the rules-based international order. Thus, platforms such as the Quad involving the US, India, Australia, and Japan should step up and push back against Beijing’s overtly belligerent moves. In this regard, it’s welcome that the recent fourth Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Melbourne, Australia saw the group reaffirm its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
PC: PTI
- The moot point to ponder over here is whether we could further shed our diplomatic inhibitions in pointing out the neighbor’s revisionist agenda. The answer is an emphatic yes, no less. However, the approach being adopted by the Indian establishment is far from being vociferous and/or forceful. A case in point is Foreign Minister’s recent statement that the Quad was for something, not against somebody. It defies logic why such caveats are being pursued which is no longer helpful under the circumstances. Contrarily, note what last week’s US strategy paper says. It mentioned unambiguously that China is combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological might to rewrite global rules.
- China presents the biggest systemic threat to the global order and the only way it will change course is if there is concerted international pushback as well as costs for Beijing’s nefarious designs. China is here to stay. The Quad, and India as a nation directly affected, needs to be bolder and forcefully call China out for its destructive activities.
