Laddakh Incursions: Threat Countered
14 June 2020
Colonel Dev Anand
The recent border transgressions by china is part of China’s muscle flexing over Bharat’s growing stature and divert attention from growing domestic compulsion but it failed miserably in wanting to surprise Bharatiya military and also failed to hold on to its ground. The situation has stabilized with China realizing that it’s not 1962 anymore
May 5 scuffle at Pangong triggered by Chinese soldiers to divert attention from the world getting together against China for its suspicion on coronavirus Covid-19 and to revive the dip in popularity of Xi Jinping on domestic ground seems to have misfired.
As part of 11th de-escalation effort since 5 may 2020 the military commanders of India and China met on Saturday (6 Jun) in Moldo ( 20 km from the present site of the collision) on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to end the deadlock between Bharat and China. Bharat’s diplomatic efforts for a ‘status quo as of April’ seems to be finding its way as the Chinese make symbolic gestures of retreat.
The Bharat – China agreement of 1993 says that pending the final settlement of the boundary, each side would respect the Line of Actual Control and In case one side crosses the line, they would pull back on being cautioned by the other. 2013 agreement too also emphasize that maximum self-restraint should be exercised if the border forces come to a face-to-face situation in areas where there is no common understanding. No provocative actions or threat to use force or actual use of force would be made.
Why then are we witnessing such pushing and punching specially in times of CORONA COVID – 19? It would be blunder to believe that this is a circumstantial issue and occurred due to global events in recent months where in Bharat has been seen emerging as a global player enjoying good relations with both Russia & US and major world players.
Indeed the recent incursions are part of Post 5 Aug20- China’s strategic plan mainly to secure it’s claim over areas of J&K under its occupation and to secure the CPAC corridor/Shaksgam valley / Aksai Chin with all-weather link Via Tibet and thus defeat Bharat parliament’s resolve to take control of complete POK including areas under control of China. As also to dissuade Bharat from developing infrastructural in areas close to LAC.
If China’s Wuhan Virus conspiracy is to be believed than it stands to logic to believe that China taking advantage of crippled west and world at large involved in fight against CORONA had plans in place to move with speed & stealth across LAC deep in Laddakh occupying the areas as far as possible surprising Bharat military and lay claims as it has done in South China sea. The plans failed miserably when Bharat Military swiftly moved closer to LAC and deployed far faster and in higher strength surprising Mandarins. It is also a fact that as I pen down Chinese troops are deployed on some Bharatiya area.
Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) is located at the northern edge of Laddakh in the cold desert at an altitude of 16614 ft housing world’s highest air strip. It is an area of importance which lies next to LAC in Aksai Chin and less than 20 km from Karakoram pass. In Galwan valley the Chinese military had deployed troops around three patrolling points to discourage up gradation of border infrastructure that has picked up pace in the recent years where in the construction of the 255 km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. This would give Bharat’s military easy access to the last military post south of the dominating Karakoram Pass and put counter pressure on PLA in the areas of Karakoram Pass, Chip Chap river, Trig Heights, Hot Springs, Galwan and Depsang Plains. Vice versa too, if Chinese are able to cut off at DBO than they can interfere with our supplies and reinforcements.
Development of communication by Bharat right up to the Karakoram Pass threatens China – Pakistan’s vital link “Kashghar – Khunjarab Pass to Lahasa, via Aksai Chin. As also China feels insecure about losing Aksai Chin and the Shaksgam Valley ( 5,163 sq km illegally ceded to China which lies north-west of Siachin glacier) in a swift surprise action specially post recent assertion by government of Bharat that the whole of Kashmir, including Aksai Chin.
The recent border transgressions by china is part of China’s muscle flexing over Bharat’s growing stature and divert attention from growing domestic compulsion but it failed miserably in wanting to surprise Bharatiya military and also failed to hold on to its ground. The situation has stabilized with China realizing that it’s not 1962 anymore. During talks Bharat firmly conveyed its stand that China has to restore April status and infrastructure development will continue as before. Chinese blinked and started retreat in phased manner.
