India-China relations now need a reset
Recently, many political analysts and media outlets have given their views that it is inevitable and necessary to “reset” China-India ties. This is because China’s moves have changed the status quo, which Chinese should have respected under a range of bilateral agreements since 1993.
China changed the status quo unilaterally under a mistaken sense of military and economic superiority. India suffered casualties in a bloody clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15 when Indian troops were first illegally attacked by PLA troops who had crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and erected tents and other structures. PLA should assume full responsibility for the clash. The cause of conflicts this year stemmed from PLA pretending that as per its perception the LAC is not where they had erected their tents etc. Actually since last several years India has been upgrading its infrastructure in Ladhak and Arunachal and China now knows that their “ salami slicing “ days of territory encroachment are over. In fact India will soon demand that PLA vacates entire occupied Ladhak and step back behind the Indo Tibetan border which itself needs to be negotiated and marked both on ground and map.
China-India border tensions have de-escalated in recent days. However after the killing of Indian troops, India has decided that henceforth there us going to be no business with China as usual. Hence there is a calling for a reset of India-China relations.
The true story of the Galwan Valley clash has now emerged and the whole world knows about it. Most Chinese still lack a proper understanding of the conflict and though they are aware that PLA attacked and killed 20 Indian soldiers, they are unaware that PLA also lost over 40 as killed and another over 40 as wounded.
After India suffered casualties in the June 15 incident, Indian politicians, the public and scholars believed India did suffer a great loss, and they have vowed to economically decouple from China and militarily are ready to defend our Sovereignty at all cost. India is aware of its military prowess and in Ladhak Sector now the Indian Forces have the capability to take the battle deep into Chinese Occupied Tibet and even inflict damage to main land China. So if China makes any fresh incursions then this time PLA will face grave consequences. Now India will resort to military means to deal with any fresh clashes like Galwan Valley clash. This is the only language which China seems to understand.
India is on the rise, and Indian nationalism is ramping up. This round of China-India border tensions has, to a large extent, affected India’s China strategy. All bilateral relations have been put on hold. India will not do any business with China as they have attacked and killed our troops.
Furthermore, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently delivered a speech in which he called on the “free world” to change China. New Delhi can play a significant role in Washington’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. China-India border tensions provide the US an opportunity to further woo India to help it contain China. This aspect should be kept in mind by China and and motivate to carry out the settlement of border disputes and the development of China-India relations.
Whether Donald Trump is reelected or not, the US and India will continue to strengthen their cooperation. India will also feels more confident by strengthening military cooperation with the US and its other friends. Though such cooperation are not directed against any one especially China, unless it starts behaving in a belligerent manner.
As the two largest emerging powers of the World, Beijing and New Delhi should avoid border conflicts and as a start negotiate and settle the Indo Tibetan Border without delay. Only then tge two countries think of bilateral trade and commerce.
