Mutual respect in India-China relations presupposes widespread peace along the border
Posted Date – Sat 4/29/23 at 12:15pm
Mutual respect in India-China relations presupposes widespread peace along the border
Hyderabad: There will be no improvement in bilateral relations with China unless it takes credible and measurable steps to withdraw its troops and ease tensions in eastern Ladakh. This clear and unequivocal message was conveyed bluntly to visiting Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu. India made its position clear to him on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers meeting in New Delhi. This is the first visit by a Chinese defense minister to India since the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) made repeated incursions into eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, leading to bloody clashes in the Galwan Valley in June of that year and subsequent deterioration. Bilateral relations. Beijing has been brazenly flexing its muscles, demonstrating its territorial hegemony through frequent violations of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Four days after a marathon 18th round of commander-level talks between the two sides failed to produce any breakthroughs, the meeting between Rajnath Singh and Shanfu was understandably lukewarm. It must be pointed out that the prerequisite for mutual respect in India-China relations is the maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border. But Beijing’s violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire foundation of the bilateral relationship. The sooner China realizes that all issues related to Latin America and the Caribbean can be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments, the better for the development of bilateral relations.
It is of course China’s responsibility to get the bilateral relationship back on track. India has been advocating a continuous process of disengagement, de-escalation and withdrawal of the more than 50,000 heavy weapons systems troops each side has deployed along the eastern border in Ladakh. Both countries have disengaged from the northern and southern sides of the Pangong Tso, Gogra and Hot Spring regions since the standoff began in May 2020, but tensions continue in the Depsang Plain and Demchok. Furthermore, while troops have disengaged at several points along the Line of Actual Control, they continue to be deployed in forward areas, along with their armor and artillery equipment. India seeks de-escalation, which will require returning all additional troops and equipment in forward areas to pre-April 2020 positions. In recent years, China has blatantly displayed its territorial hegemony and stepped up construction on the Himalayan border, causing major security concerns in India. Base construction, including the new dual-use airport, has also accelerated since the standoff in Ladakh. For India, there is a long way to go to catch up with China in terms of border infrastructure. China’s attempted invasion of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district in December last year underscored again the urgency of strengthening border infrastructure.
