Home Expert Reviews

Galwan Anniversary: China Says India Likely To Ignite Border Conflict In Ladakh; Expert Says ‘No Disengagement’

Ahead of the first anniversary of the deadly Galwan Valley clash, an Indian analyst believes there won’t be a complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh until India feels that its border infrastructure has significantly caught up with that of China.

The June 15, 2020, incident in Galwan Valley was the deadliest border clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. India lost 20 soldiers while China admitted to only four casualties, months after the clash.

China’s state-run daily Global Times has published a report wherein Chinese experts spoke about the possibility of India creating a new border conflict “to shift attention from worsening economic, pandemic conditions”.

Calling China to beware of “nationalistic manipulation in India”, these experts argued that India has a “political tradition of looking for border issues to distract attention when there is a crisis at home”.

This artificially built narrative comes amid reports of China clamping down on its citizens questioning the Ladakh standoff. A popular Chinese blogger was recently sentenced to eight months in prison on account of making “slanderous” comments on the four PLA soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clash.




File:India china.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
File Image: Indian, Chinese Soldiers – Wikimedia Commons

China’s Doublespeak?

Interestingly, the views expressed by Chinese experts contradict Beijing’s official statement on the border row with India.

The Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, has said that New Delhi and Beijing “need to help each other succeed instead of undercutting each other”.

Speaking at an event in New Delhi on June 9, Sun said the two sides “should respect each other, treat each other as equals, conduct dialogue and consultation and properly address differences to find a mutually acceptable solution”, adding that, “At the moment, we should focus on tackling the pandemic, reviving the economy, improving people’s livelihood, and managing our own affairs well.”

“It is normal for countries to have differences. The boundary question is left over from history and should be put at a proper place in the overall bilateral relations. The Chinese side’s position is clear. We are committed to settling the boundary question through dialogue and consultation.

“At the same time, we are resolved to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides should respect each other, treat each other as equals, conduct dialogue and consultation and properly address differences to find a mutually acceptable solution,” Sun said.

India, China Disengagement Process

At the ninth round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China in January, an agreement was reached to disengage from the contentious north and south bank of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh.

The agreement created a no-patrol zone or a buffer zone between Finger 4 and Finger 8 mountain spurs jutting into the lake.

One of the points agreed was India’s withdrawal from the Kailash range. The official narrative of the disengagement process from the Indian side remains that the Kailash range was occupied as leverage to bring China to the negotiating table and make them go back to their April 2020 positions.

With Rafale Jets At Helm, Indian Air Force Could Have Outnumbered, Outperformed ‘Invading’ Chinese Jets – Experts

However, several analysts and the different sections of the media have been critical of India’s agreement of withdrawal.

The EurAsian Times earlier reported on the concerns mooted by the political and defense analysts on the loss of tactical advantage over the Chinese PLA stationed below in plains.

Read More

Exit mobile version