On this day, fifty one years ago in the events leading up to the India –
China war, the directorate of military operations proposed the use of air force
to counter increasing Chinese presence along the McMahon line. The situation
half a century hence is not as alarming but looks strikingly similar. Back then
the Chinese disputed the border treaty and advanced into Ladakh. The five tents
that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has pitched in the last two weeks is a
reminder of the events of 1961. But much snow has melted since then on the
Ladakh glaciers. The socio political situations in both India and China have
changed. China is no longer the communist state it was in the 60s with a failed
“Great Leap Forward”. India is no longer incapable of fighting a high altitude war.
India and China trade goods worth USD 66 billion between them.
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| We don't crack jokes all the time |
India’s external affairs minister Salman Khurshid is scheduled to visit Beijing
on 9th May 2013 and China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang will visit
India later this month. What is a bit difficult to understand is the fact that
why China is engaging in aggressive military tactics at a time when high level
political visits are on cards? This leaves us with another question, whether
these actions are sanctioned by China’s high office in Beijing? Is PLA acting
on its own interest by provoking tension (much like the Pakistani army does at
times)? We might not get answers to any of these questions yet. Little
information is flowing into public domain. Indian media has been reporting the
events based on information obtained from unofficial sources (leaks from army
establishments) and the government has been playing them down. Words like “localized”,
“routine” and “acne” have been used to explain the latest events. On the other
side of McMahon, there is hardly any information on the incident. The official
news agency “Xinhua” does not give any information on the present situation. Few days ago it was
reported that China has accepted the offer made by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to resolve the border issue peacefully. In the meanwhile Indian media too
has reduced its coverage on the subject.
Given the
changing socio economic situations in both India and China and growing military
strength, it is unlikely that any of the country would engage in a war. However,
China has displayed expansionist behaviour in the past with many of its
neighbours. The Senkaku/Diaoyu island standoffs are the latest in a long
series. International pressure and domestic obligations will also play a role
in avoiding any escalations. Having said that, it is now time for India to take
concrete steps towards resolving its border disputes. After six decades of
independence India has resolved only one of its border disputes (with
Bangladesh). The Chinese leadership on the other hand is more interested in
leaving the dispute to be resolved by a later generation, which will have
wisdom.
Resolving its
border dispute with its largest neighbour should not be left for a wiser
generation. India needs to take on the issue seriously with China and set a
long term timeline for the matter to be resolved. Let’s not forget that China
has territorial disputes with almost all its neighbours (the most sensitive
ones being in the South China Sea). It will be in the interest of both the
countries to strike off the item off the list as soon as possible. As the
saying goes, “good fences make good neighbours”. Its time India takes the first
step.
