In the midst of a pandemic that India is struggling to cope with, the country has now to deal with the armed aggression from China and the political moves by Nepal to redraw the map to include parts that have been in possession of India. In the space of a few days, India has got diplomatically and militarily engaged with neighbours at a time when it should have been concentrating on the health care of its citizens and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s almost as if India is being cornered at the most inconvenient of times, when it requires all its resources to fight the health emergency in the country.
The standoff at Galwan valley in Ladakh on June 16 appears to be the culmination of weeks of tension between India and China. It started in early May with clashes and led to a buildup of armed forces by either side. As per the Indian statement, the clash resulted from an attempt by China to ‘change the status quo’ at the site, while China claims the Indian soldiers crossed the border. The tension at Ladakh has been building up since early May with soldiers from either country ranged against each other. Could the deaths of the soldiers have been avoided had Indian tackled the situation differently?
Right now, India has to keep dialogue as a means to reduce the tension in the area, using whatever diplomatic means possible to resolve the crisis, but the outcome of this will take time. There have been confrontations between the two countries in the past along the line of actual control (LAC). In the current case, Ladakh has been on alert for well over a month, and there have been skirmishes along the LAC, but this is the most serious in decades and so the response from India has to take into consideration the fallout of any decision it takes. The Chinese media, as per reports, has called for disengagement to avoid a border war.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meet on June 19 to discuss the situation arising from the Chinese agression. India and China are nuclear powers and a full-scale military engagement may not be of benefit to either. Everybody will agree that peace at this point of time is the best, but agression by a neighbour has to also be dealt with, as the PM said, “a fitting reply”. India has to determine what that response will be. There can be no compromise when the integrity and sovereignty of the nation is concerned. There can also be no political playmaking in such situations.
The Ladakh border clash will spill over onto diplomatic and economic ties. Last October PM Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jingping met at Mamallapuram, a coastal town close to Chennai in an informal summit, where the two nations discussed trade relations and working together on international issues. Relations were expected to grow stronger from then on. This standoff will result in a fresh wave of anti-China emotions and protests, placing also further challenges to the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The COVID-19 pandemic that started from China had already resulted in some anti-China sentiment, which will increase, and could have a debilitating effect on the economy. Posters bearing the picture of the Chinese president have already been set aflame in some parts of India.
Right now, the statement that 20 Indians die for India, raises patriotic feelings, but the numbers could increase. If fatalities can be avoided they should. The response from India should be strong, but at the same time ensure that precious lives are not lost.
