SD Pradhan for Times of India
India’s exasperation with continued standoff along-side lack of progress on dis-engagement on friction points other than Pangong Tso is distinctly palpable. There has been no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as ‘the Chinese side did not show flexibility in its approach at the 11th round of military talks with the Indian Army on the 9th April.’
There are also worrisome reports that in the training areas, China has inducted more troops. China’s long-term plans plainly suggest its intentions to replicate its experiment of the South China Sea (SCS) of changing the facts on the ground to its favour.
An analysis of the Chinese actions suggests that China is deliberately delaying disengagement process at other places. The Chinese are blocking India’s patrol from bottleneck areas near Gogra Post and Hot Springs. Both of these spots are close to the Chang Chenmo river in the Galwan sub-sector of the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. While Hot Springs is just north of the Chang Chenmo river, Gogra Post is east of the point where the river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest. China’s plans are obviously to gradually stabilise this position. Denial of patrols to the Indian Army, where they were going earlier, is a gain for China.
The Indian Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar recently remarked with clarity on the strategic dimension of the bilateral relations. He stated that ‘the relationship is at a crossroads and which direction we go depends on whether the Chinese side would adhere to the agreements between the two countries.’
He further pointed out that “the border tensions cannot continue with cooperation in other areas.” He also explained that such acts are definitely going to impact the ties if the peace and tranquillity at the border are disturbed along with bloodshed. Jaishankar also made it clear that it is difficult to manage the relationship when the relationship has been violated by one side.
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