With Tents And Supplies, Indian Army Digs Its Heels In
Standoff With China
Indian Army is ready for a long haul
in holding onto its position in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction,
notwithstanding China ratcheting up rhetoric against India demanding pulling
back of its troops.
Indian soldiers deployed in the area have pitched in tents, in an indication
that they are unlikely to retreat unless there was reciprocity from China's
army personnel in ending the face-off at an altitude of around 10,000 feet in
the Sikkim sector.
A steady line of supplies is being maintained for the soldiers at the site,
official sources said, signaling that the Indian Army is not going to wilt
under any pressure from China. At the same time they sounded confident of
finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff, citing resolution of border
skirmishes in the past through diplomacy.
Though China has been aggressively asserting that it was not ready for any
"compromise" and that the "ball is in India's court", the
view in the security establishment in New Delhi is that there cannot be any
unilateral approach in defusing the tension. Both the countries had agreed to a
mechanism in 2012 to resolve border flare ups through consultations at various
levels.
The mechanism has not worked so far in the current case in Sikkim sector as the
standoff near the Bhutan tri-junction, triggered by China's attempt to build a
road in the strategically important area, has dragged on for over three weeks.
New Delhi has already conveyed to
Beijing that such an action would represent a significant change of status quo
with "serious" security implications for India. The road link could
give China a major military advantage over India.
China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the
area. India argues that since it is a tri-junction involving the three
countries, it also has a say in the issue, specially in the backdrop of the
2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries, that have
till now held 19 rounds of talks.
Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. As a close friend and neighbor,
Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.
Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal
Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.
Third
Country’s Army Could Enter Kashmir for Pakistan: Latest Threat from China
China and India have been engaged in a standoff in
the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction for the past three weeks after a
Chinese army's construction party attempted to build a road. India’s “logic” in
stopping the Chinese military from constructing a road in the Doklam area of Sikkim sector on behalf of Bhutan can be
applied to Kashmir as well, an analyst at a Chinese think tank has said.
Writing in the state-controlled Global
Times, Long Xingchun, Director at the Centre for Indian Studies at
China West Normal University, said a "third country's" army could
enter Kashmir at Pakistan's request.
"Even if India were requested to defend Bhutan's territory, this
could only be limited to its established territory, not the disputed
area," Xingchun said in the article.
"Otherwise, under India's logic, if the Pakistani government requests, a
third country's Army can enter the area disputed by India and Pakistan,
including India-controlled Kashmir," the article said.
The media in China parrots the establishment’s line and has recently carried a
barrage of critical articles on the Doklam standoff criticising India, but this
is the first time that Pakistan and Kashmir have been brought into the
narrative.
"Indian troops invaded China's Doklam area in the name of helping Bhutan,
but in fact the invasion was intended to help India by making use of
Bhutan," it said, referring to the June 30 statement issued by India's
External Affairs Ministry.
China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Doklam area near the
Bhutan tri-junction for the past three weeks after a Chinese army's
construction party attempted to build a road.
Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam,
while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. Of the 3,488-km-long
India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km
section falls in Sikkim.
"For a long time, India has been talking about international equality and
non-interference in the internal affairs of others, but it has pursued
hegemonic diplomacy in South Asia, seriously violating the UN Charter and
undermining the basic norms of international relations," it said.
Another article in the same daily said India must desist using the "Dalai
Lama card" and mess up relations with China.
Referring to reports that the "Tibetan national flag," a
pro-independence symbol adopted by the Tibetan government-in-exile, was
unfurled on the shores of Bangong Lake, known as Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh
region, the article said the timing on the incident coincided with the standoff
between the two militaries in Doklam area and whether Indian authorities
instigated the political activity of Tibetan separatists to exert pressure on China
"When the Indian government attaches great importance to its relationship
with China, it keeps a tight grip on anti- China political activities on its
soil. However, when it is dissatisfied or has conflicts with Beijing, the Tibet
card is played up. But India may overestimate the influence of Tibetan
exiles," it claimed.
India-China Current Affairs
The present standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam
(located at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan) has highlighted
India’s very special relationship with Bhutan, including military
responsibilities.
Background
In June 2017 Chinese Army (People’s
Liberation Army) construction party had entered the Doklam area and attempted
to construct a road. Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) patrol had attempted to dissuade
them from this unilateral activity. Later Bhutan underlined that the
construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory was a direct violation of
the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affected the process
of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. Since these
developments, India and Bhutan have been in continuous contact, giving a view
of India’s role in Bhutan’s security and matters of mutual interest.
India’s defense
commitment to Bhutan
Under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship
Treaty, both countries have agreed to cooperate closely with each other on issues
relating to their national interests. It provides that, neither Government will
allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security
and interest of the other. Under the previous treaty, India was to guide Bhutan
on foreign and defense policies. The 2007 treaty is meant to respect the
sensitivities of Bhutan regarding its sovereignty. In reality, it gives India
virtual responsibility to protect Bhutan from the kind of external threat
including threat from Chinese military. Moreover, the Eastern Army Command and
the Eastern Air Command of India have integrated protection of Bhutan into
their role. The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), headed by a Major
General also plays a critical role in training Bhutanese security personnel.
Indian and Chinese troops are facing off once again in Sikkim at Doko-La (or
Donglong, as the Chinese call it), which lies at the tri-junction of India,
China and Bhutan. There have been growing tensions between India and China. The
current confrontation, however, shows signs of escalating. Both countries have
upped the ante and deployed around 3,000 troops each in the tri-junction. The
Doklam area has huge strategic significance for both India and China. It close
to proximity of sensitive Chicken’s Neck, or the Siliguri Corridor, which is an
extremely narrow stretch of land that connects the north-eastern region to the
rest of India.
Here is background of India-China Border
dispute
India-China Border Dispute
India shares total boundary of around 3,488 km
with China (second largest after Bangladesh). The Sino-Indian border is
generally divided into three sectors namely: Western sector, Middle sector, and
Eastern sector. 5 states viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share border with China.
Western Sector
In
the western sector, India shares about 2152 km long border with China. It is
between Jammu and Kashmir and Xinjiang Province of China. In this sector, there
is territorial dispute over Aksai Chin. Both countries went to war in 1962 over
disputed territory of Aksai Chin. India claims it as part of Kashmir, while China
claims it is part of Xinjiang. The dispute over Aksai Chin can be traced back
to the failure of the British Empire to clearly demarcate a legal border
between China and its Indian colony. During the time of British rule in India,
two borders between India and China were proposed Johnson’s Line and McDonald
Line. The Johnson’s line (proposed in 1865) shows Aksai Chin in Jammu and
Kashmir i.e. under India’s control whereas McDonald Line (proposed in 1893)
places it under China’s control. India considers Johnson Line as correct,
rightful national border with China, while on the other hand, China considers
the McDonald Line as the correct border with India. At present, Line of Actual
Control (LAC) is the line separating Indian areas of Jammu and Kashmir from
Aksai Chin. It is concurrent with the Chinese Aksai Chin claim line.
Middle sector
In
this sector, India shares about 625 km long boundary with China which runs
along the watershed from Ladakh to Nepal. The states of Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand touch this border with Tibet (China) in this sector. Both sides do
not have much disagreement over border in this area.
Eastern Sector
In
this sector, India shares 1,140 km long boundary with China. It runs from the
eastern limit of Bhutan to a point near the Talu Pass at the trijunction of
Tibet, India and Myanmar. This boundary line is called McMahon Line. The
boundary was established along the Himalayan crest of the northern watershed of
the Brahmaputra, except where the Kemang, Subansiri, Dihang and Lohit rivers
break through that watershed. China considers the McMahon Line illegal and
unacceptable claiming that Tibetans representatives who had sign the 1914
Convention held in Shimla which delineated the Mc Mahon line on the map were
not having rights to do so.
Present mechanism to
resolve border issue
India and China in 2003 had appointed Special
Representatives to discuss the boundary question. In 2005, both sides had
agreed on political parameters and guiding principles for a boundary
settlement, will form the basis of the final settlement. So far 19 rounds
of Special Representative Talks on the border have taken place (the latest was
in April 2016).
