Opinion On border crisis, it’s time India placed the onus for ‘good behaviour’ on China
This does not mean indulging in rabble-rousing on the China issue, but a call to diplomats and strategic community to identify and exploit levers that can change China’s behaviour
Almost a year ago, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had termed the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh as “very fragile” and “quite dangerous.” (Representational Photo) 
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The border crisis between India and China in Eastern Ladakh is on the verge of completing four years. In the 46 months since we were strategically surprised by the unilateral Chinese actions, 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have taken place between the two sides. The latest talks took place on February 19. The official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was issued on February 21 and stated that the two sides agreed to maintain communication on the way ahead through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. It added that the two sides were also committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim. As quoted by Global Times, an almost similar statement was issued by China’s Ministry of National Defence. Interestingly, the paper quotes China’s defence ministry as stating that the two sides agreed to “turn the page” regarding the border situation. This “turn the page” aspect is missing in the Indian statement.
On the face of it, the statements appear to seemingly avoid a confrontation and project a “positive” development. Dig deep, and one finds that the MEA has issued similar statements in the last few rounds of talks between the two sides. True, there has been no confrontation in Ladakh (though there was a clash in Yangtse in the Tawang sector in December 2022), and a tenuous peace prevails. Dig deeper, and one discovers that no progress has been made on the key Indian demands. The militaries on both sides remain forward-deployed with a range of assets, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and aircraft. China continues to block access to 26 patrolling points (PPs). Buffer zones have been created in areas where some disengagement has taken place. There is no clarity on whether these “buffer zones” are to India’s advantage or disadvantage. The cavalier manner in which China threw all the pre-2020 agreements to the winds does not instil confidence that they would necessarily respect their own official statements. In an act of balancing the ground realities and diplomatic niceties, Army Chief General Manoj Pande stated in his pre-Army Day press conference that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh was “stable” but “sensitive.” Almost a year ago, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had termed the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh as “very fragile” and “quite dangerous.” On February 21, while speaking at the INDUS-X Summit, Giridhar Aramane, the Indian Defence Secretary, stated that India was standing against a “bully” in a very “determined fashion”.
It is instructive to read and study accounts in the Chinese media on the border issue. A recent article in Global Times articulated the Chinese view of India, obtained through interviews with think tank experts in China. Long Xingchun, a professor at the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, is quoted as saying, “China [would] not make major concessions to India on border disputes, particularly on territorial issues.” Further, the article states that no breakthroughs have been possible in the ongoing Corps Commander-level meetings because India uses the talks to “compel China to withdraw and allow India to carry out patrols and occupy Chinese territories in certain areas.” The Chinese have no qualms in peddling lies while laying the blame and onus on India for the Ladakh crisis.
China has also been active on India’s periphery. Take the case of Myanmar. China has mediated a ceasefire between Myanmar’s military (called “Tatmadaw’) and an alliance of rebel groups. China is playing both sides in Myanmar. On the one hand, it is overtly supporting the military rulers, while on the other, it is manipulating ethnic and armed organisations along the China-Myanmar border for political leverage over Myanmar. Reports have emerged mentioning the supply of arms and anti-aircraft weapons by China to the ethnic armed organisations. China has used “disinformation” as a tool to drive a wedge between India and Nepal. During the visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” to China in September 2023, Chinese media flaunted the success of the China-Nepal Transit Transport Agreement. Global Times quoted the Deputy Director of the South Asian Institute of Contemporary International Relations Research Academy of China stating, “While providing some support and assistance, India often resorts to rude and unilateral actions towards Nepal.”
A few things stand out from the developments so far. The Indian armed forces have shown a commendable and unflinching resolve in ensuring there are no further Chinese incursions. Barring occasional writings in the Indian media and commentaries in a few think tanks, there is hardly any public debate and brain-storming on the Chinese challenge. Dreary official statements and opacity do not suffice for a democratic nation when faced with a dangerous adversary. The Indian citizen needs to be made aware of the various dimensions of the China challenge.
Simultaneously, India must firmly place the onus of “good behaviour” on China. Being ultra-sensitive to the Chinese has only been to our detriment. Indian official reaction has been muted on the elections in Taiwan. Even the tiny Philippines sent an unusually effusive congratulatory message to Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s president. The argument is not to indulge in rabble-rousing on the China issue but a call to our diplomats and the strategic community to identify and exploit levers that can change China’s behaviour. Self-aggrandising statements of greatness may impress voters in an election year but make no material difference in the rough world of geopolitics and international powerplay. India has given China a long rope for too long. It is now time to tighten the noose.
The writer is a former Indian Air Force officer
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