INDIAN AND CHINESE TROOPS STANDOFF IN LADAKH

As Indian and Chinese troops are in a tense standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LOA) in mountainous eastern Ladakh for close to four weeks it is for India and China to resolve the row bilaterally and there is no role for any other country. Both the countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute.

The skirmishes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh and Sikkim are far more serious than what we have seen in recent years because they involve a sizeable number of Chinese soldiers who have occupied Indian territory.

Last week, US President Donald Trump offered to mediate between India and China to end the face-off. However, both India and China rejected the offer, saying they have bilateral mechanisms to resolve the dispute.

However growing assertiveness of China in South China Sea as well as China's plan to enforce a security law in Hong Kong notwithstanding the widespread protests by its citizens are of serious concern.

Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region are already under threat due to Chinese expansionist ambitions. It has become all the more demanding that Indian diplomacy should focus it's concentration on boosting cooperation among the asian countries and Australia for discouraging ambitious machinations of China for ensuring peace in the region.

The trigger for the flare-up has been due to India’s construction of roads and airstrips. Xi Jinping’s China is the proponent of a hard line on all matters of territory and sovereignty. India is no less when it comes to these matters either.

After years India pushed herself for improving connectivity for building 66 key roads along the Chinese border by 2022.

One of these roads is near the Galwan valley that connects to Daulat Beg Oldi air base, which was inaugurated last October, 2019.

The road is very important because it runs parallel to the LAC and is linked at various points with the major supply bases inland.

China's Belt and Road is a string of ports, railways, roads and bridges connecting China to Europe via central and southern Asia and involving Pakistan, China's close ally and India's long-time foe.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has expanded its specialised high-altitude arsenal of weapons since the 2017 Doklam standoff with India to prepare for future conflicts.

So far, all the government has said on the record is that China has "hindered" routine Indian patrolling. But the situation along the Line of Actual Control is clearly much more alarming. 

Modi government has remained mum on exactly what is going on with China in Ladakh. It seems the mainstream media who literally feel easy to serve any problem as having Pakistan's involvement on television have been told by the government not to focus too much attention on China’s aggressive moves in Ladakh.

On the contrary the focus of media cheerleaders and the BJP's IT cell have taken to attacking the opposition on  issues where the Modi government needs to provide answers.

Let it be noted that during and after the Kargil war with Pakistan in 1999, the then prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, briefed parliament and kept all the opposition parties in the loop. Modi has not followed this practise of parliamentary audit and scrutiny, and of keeping opposition leaders on board – either during the Doklam standoff, or in relation to Ladakh now.

Interestingly, apart from Doval, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has also re-emerged as a foreign policy actor.

Like it or not and do not be ashamed of if we go to the extent to think if China assessed that we are the weakest ever right now in terms of friends – especially after the flare up with Nepal – the economy, political resolve and internal coherence -- hence the aggression.