Indian Gains Advantage From LAC Clashes With China
In the past few days, the border area has returned to some calm, maybe temporarily, especially the situation at Pangong Lake. Apparently, the meeting between Chinese and Indian defense ministers and the one between foreign ministers played a positive role in cooling down the situation. However this is likely to be a ploy for increasing the troop concentration by the PLA.
Though the Indian Army foiled all attempts of the PLA to carry out further incursions. It also established defended posts on various vantage points on own side along the LAC in Pangong Chusul Sector. Now the Indian Army has clear uninterrupted view of the entire Moldo Valley with all the Chinese csmps and defended posts. Thus at many points, the IA has got the upper hand in the confrontation.
The fundamental reason for the rash moves by the PLA is their leadership’s misjudgment of the strategic posture between China and India. Signs show that firm counter and Speedy deployment of the IA, the Chinese side now has clear understanding of India’s real strength, resolve and determination. It remains to be seen whether this understanding will turn into stricter management of PLA frontline troops.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held full, in-depth discussions with Minister of External Affairs of India S. Jaishankar on the situation in the border areas as well as bilateral ties on the sidelines of a foreign ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Moscow on Thursday.
It was the first time the two officials have spoken face-to-face since the border clash broke out in June. It embodies both countries’ concerns over the escalation of the situation. Both sides hope to de-escalate the clash, stabilize bilateral ties, and prevent it from simmering into a broader conflict, or even war.
Since June, several rounds of negotiations in terms of military and diplomacy between China and India have been held, in an attempt to relieve the tension. Narratives and moves from Chinese side seem to differ from the Indian Ministry of Defense.
India is ready to resolve the conflict by force, but also has the sincerity to peacefully settle the conflict. Therefore, whether China will carry out the 5-point consensus will be a big test of the Modi government’s policy toward China and of its political wisdom.
If China and India act according to the joint press statement, or there is more engagement of higher leaders, the ongoing border clashes will be relieved to some extent and the possibility of a larger-scale armed conflict, even a war will be greatly reduced.
However India has stated its bottom line. There will be no further economic engagement till the issue if Indo Tibetan Border is fully resolved and the border is demarcated on ground.
China, whose policy toward India has not changed, sees India as a challenger to its number one Asian Power. Instead, India is willing to engage in pragmatic cooperation with China in a bid to stabilize bilateral ties.
Though India has the sincerity to peacefully tackle the border conflicts with China, it will adhere to its principle to safeguard its territorial and sovereign interests.
India will not neglect the development of its defense capability, and is capable of preventing any moves that challenge our territorial and sovereign interests.
Apart from border conflicts, many of Indian recent moves have hit China’s interests, such as banning a wide range of apps developed by Chinese firms. The economic decoupling will further hit the Chinese exporting companies.
