A brief history: India -China standoff

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Published : Jun 7, 2020, 11:43 PM IST

India, China agree to resolve issue through talks

India and China have agreed to peacefully resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh. The first standoff began on May 5th when Indian and Chinese soldiers reportedly clashed at Pangong Tso lake.

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday said that India and China have agreed to "peacefully resolve" the standoff in Ladakh in accordance with various bilateral agreements. The Ministry stressed that military and diplomatic dialogue will continue to resolve the situation in eastern Ladakh.

"The two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas," the Ministry said in a statement.

The first standoff began on May 5th when Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at Pangong Tso, which is a lake that extends from India to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China, with the LAC passing through it

A brief history: India -China face-off

1962-India never suspected that China would ever launch an attack, but it did. India was attacked on October 20, 1962 in what famously came to be known as Sino-India war of 1962. The belief of not ever being attacked by China did not let the Indian army prepare and the result was the standoff between 10,000-20,000 Indian troops and 80,000 Chinese troops. The war continued

for about a month and ended on November 21, after China declared a ceasefire.

1967-On that instance, just five years after India's traumatic 1962 war defeat, the Indian Army gave the Chinese a bloody nose, according to accounts from the time. More than 80 Indian soldiers were killed, while estimates say between 300 to 400 Chinese troops were killed.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. India gave China a bloody nose in 1967 which was the last Sikkim stand-off.

2. China was irritated with presence of Indian Army in the then Kingdom of Sikkim.

3. Maj Gen Sheru Thapliyal (retd), who was posted in Sebu La, recalled the 1967 incident.

1967-People's Liberation Army (PLA) has a strategy that while dealing with its enemy in case of a land dispute, do not to let go the rival's land area which is in China's holding. Another strategy of the Chinese is to demand the land which is with its rival and third, if the rival country's land falls in between their land then threaten the enemy for that piece of land as well.

1987- Sumdorong Chu incident in 1987 in Arunachal Pradesh is one such standoff between the Indian Army and Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) where India-China came close to a war. But Indian diplomacy mixed with caution and aggression not only avoided war but also brought China to the table to discuss. The impact of the 1987 incident was such that when then PM Rajiv Gandhi visited China in 1988, he talked with the Chinese Premier on equal footing.

2013- In April 2013 India claimed, referencing their own perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) location, that Chinese troops had established a camp in the daulat beg old sector, 10 km on their side of the Line of Actual Control. This figure was later revised to a 19 km claim.

According to Indian media, the incursion included Chinese military helicopters entering Indian airspace to drop supplies to the troops. However, Chinese officials denied any trespassing having taken place.Soldiers from both countries briefly set up camps on the ill-defined frontier facing each other, but the tension was defused when both sides pulled back soldiers in early May.

 In September 2014, India and China had a standoff at the LAC, when Indian workers began constructing a canal in the border village of Demchok, and Chinese civilians protested with the army's support. It ended after about three weeks, when both sides agreed to withdraw troops.The Indian army claimed that the Chinese military had set up a camp 3 km inside territory claimed by India.

2015- In September 2015, Chinese and Indian troops faced-off in the Burtse region of northern ladhakh after Indian troops dismantled a disputed watchtower the Chinese were building close to the mutually-agreed patrolling line.

 The Doklam Military Standoff in 2017- In June, a military standoff occurred between India and China in the disputed territory of Doklam, near the Doka La pass. On June 16, 2017, the Chinese brought heavy road-building equipment to the Doklam region and began constructing a road in the disputed area. Previously, China had built a dirt road terminating at Doka La where Indian troops were stationed. They would conduct foot patrol from this point up till the Royal Bhutanese Army (RBA) post at Jampheri Ridge.

The dispute that ensued post-June 16 stemmed from the fact that the Chinese had begun building a road below Doka La, in what India and Bhutan claim to be disputed territory. This resulted in Indian intervention of China's road construction on June 18, two days after construction began. In June,a military standoff occurred between India and China in the disputed territory of Doklam, near the Doka La pass.

On June 16, 2017, the Chinese brought heavy road-building equipment to the Doklam region and began constructing a road in the disputed area. Previously, China had built a dirt road terminating at Doka La where Indian troops were stationed.

They would conduct foot patrol from this point up till the Royal Bhutanese Army (RBA) post at Jampheri Ridge. The dispute that ensued post June 16 stemmed from the fact that the Chinese had begun building a road below Doka La, in what India and Bhutan claim to be disputed territory. This resulted in the Indian intervention of China's road construction on June 18, two days after construction began.

2020-The 2020 China–India skirmishes have become an ongoing military standoff between China and India. Since 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops were reported to have engaged in non-lethal aggressive action, face-offs and skirmishes at multiple locations along the Sino-Indian border.

Also Read| Bad weather hits India-China Lt-Gen level military talks at Chushul-Moldo

What are the major possibilities if face-off begin this time-

1. Xi Jinping, the President of China, dreams of completing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as quickly as possible. With the construction of this corridor, China will direct its cargo to Gwadar Port via land. From here Chinese goods will be sent directly to Africa and other parts of the world. With this, China will not have to send goods to the countries of Southeast Asia.

2. This economic corridor between China and Pakistan passes through the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit- Baltistan region. India has been consistently objecting to the construction of this corridor from China. China has been constantly addressing India's concerns. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, India has clearly conveyed to China and Pakistan that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of it.

3. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has now started calling the Jammu and Kashmir sub-division 'Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad'. Both Gilgit- Baltistan and Muzaffarabad have been illegally captured by Pakistan. On Tuesday, IMD released estimates for Northwest India, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad.

4. China is producing goods but there are no buyers in the world. This will reduce the Chinese economy by less than half in times to come. In such a situation, China is promoting nationalism in its country and thus increasing the tension on the border, China is showing fear of attack to the people. With this, the people will not focus on the issue of poverty and crisis on jobs.

5. Multiple reasons have been cited as the triggers for these skirmishes. MIT professor Taylor Fravel said that China is responding to India's infrastructure development in Ladakh, such as the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road. He also added that it is a show of strength for China amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated inWuhan and has damaged both the Chinese economy and its diplomatic relationships.

India's former ambassador to China Ashok Kanthasaid that these skirmishes are part of a growing Chinese assertiveness in both the Indo-China border and the South China sea. Indian former ambassador Phunchok Stobdan wrote in 26 May that the Chinese were trying to take the Pangong Tso lake, which would essentially force India to redraw its borders, also possibly even exposing the Siachen Glacier to Chinese presence.

How India and China resolved three major stand-offs in the Modi era-

Chumar, 2014: The stand-off began after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to extend the road from Chepzi towards Chumar. Troops from both sides agreed to withdraw after a high-level flag meeting led by major-generals.

Burtse, 2015: The stand-off was resolved within a week by local army delegations at the ground level itself, and did not require any intervention by the governments.

Doklam, 2017: The Chinese foreign ministry demanded that India should unilaterally withdraw its troops, eventually both sides agreed and announced their withdrawal on 28 August, returning to their pre-16 June positions.

Also Read: India, China agreed to peacefully resolve border situation: MEA

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