Yoginder Kaul
We have been witnessing the Chinese standoff annually during summer months and who start claiming those areas which are in fact our areas and under our control and is part of our territory. Since China started its development pace and became number two economic giant and touched during 2019, i.e 14.14 $trillion economy with GDP growing at 6.1% although showed downward trend from the earlier years but trying to overtake USA .Its ambition is to spread its influence to claim more neighbouring areas for better control and use the economic geostrategic position to further its expansionist programme to show its military strength to big powers USA and Russia who were dominating after end of cold war in the geopolitical scenario and were undermining China’s position so far. The overall dynamics shifted from military strength to economical strength.
China became power house of economic growth in last three decades when their thrust on a faster rate became a manufacturing hub of cheap products as cost of labour is comparatively less than other countries using strict labour laws .It started extending to big project likes road construction connecting One Belt one Road construction with far off nations, a single road corridor across continents to facilitate free flow trade and commerce. Further made large scale investments in Africa , Asia and European countries by extending long term loans for big projects to build massive infrastructure make other nations burdened with huge liability and dependent when economic decline and recession had started.
Now with Corona virus pandemic scare, it got isolated sensing itself caught up in a nefarious role which it kept it a close guarded secret till it assumed dangerous potential left no nation uninfected with high rate of its spread consuming more than half million lives still no end appears for its treatment, even in advanced countries who had better Health care, research infrastructure found wanting to combat it at this stage .Reportedly where it started it has been controlled to a large extent and life has been back on rails with certain modifications in routine behaviour .A revolutionary change occurred effecting every one’s life, in social relations with downslide in economy throughout world. With each passing day China is getting nailed on international scene being accused of primary culprit regarding its invention and subsequent messing it up. Nations have started coming out openly against them which may hit them economically and investment , manufacturing already started pulling out to other places not feeling it feasible to operate there under the given conditions. China who had taken a lead in Asian continent by spreading its vast economic net In Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives , exploring connectivity to Bangladesh around India . Of late openly instigating Nepal against us on flimsy grounds which have no sound basis on remapping its area which is our part, considering India an economy with military power as a challenge to their hegemony in South Asia not accepting its terms. So to rake up it old issues which they think could deflect the attention of rest of world from the present burning issue by making forays as usual in our Ladakh region to keep India away from rest of world getting united to fight for their rightful damages to the entire humanity.The support of WHO for delaying it being declared pandemic is under cloud ,its DG has tacit support from China.
India of late started to make our borders areas accessible with laying of road infrastructure, what China had done long back on their side, so they feel unnerved that there policy of venturing into areas belonging to India will be challenged, if not amicably settled which effects their perpetual militaristic posture recently on Nakku La in Sikkim- Tibet Border and Galwan areas of Ladakh . Many times standoff , fist fights, face to face confrontation remain in news creating curiosity among hawks who want it to continue to keep us engaged in never ending solution . Last year it took more than 73 days at a stretch to take troops back from the Doklam inhibiting movements of our pasture herders during summer months on high altitudes by establishing shanty military posts, movement of patrolling troops is kept under check in the areas common to each staking its claim which continues year after year.
The recent posturing of objection by our neighbour Nepal with whom we have traditional social and cultural relations and share some common concerns, they raised the objection against opening of Pithoragarh- Lipulekh pass road to facilitate pilgrims to visit Mansarovar during summer which cuts travel time and avoid arduous route via Sikkim . Nepal too this time has a Communist regime in power who are in coalition with Maoist with whom there is growing bickering of withdrawal of support among them. To reinforce their position they get support of China with more economic aid expected and to recall the previous economic embargo during Madhesis crisis last year in which they hold Indian Involvement to avenge that heartburn these days. Now they have drawn a new map redrawing its boundaries cartographically, to which Indian Govt objected, done at the behest of China to put pressure on us this time, claiming India more dangerous than Corona scare. Nepali Gorkhas are part of our military might and are known for their commitment to secure our territorial integrity and are held in high esteem for their valour.
The Damchok Road In Ladakh is an important construction running across LAC to manage our borders in the cold dry desert .Its position is very vital for maintaining our territorial integrity after learning lesson from 1962 war following violation of Panchsheel agreement prior to that for respecting each other’s coexistence. But stray border forays from China gets erupted annually on borders since last many years to change our focus from other developments of self reliance on economic front and militarily of which they are apprehensive. It may impede their market in view of China- US trade standoff due to counter tariff imposition regime to control the market which got imbalanced in their favour due to liberalization and free trade theory followed by western countries.
India too didn’t favour the Border road initiative of China because it passes through POK area which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan and needs retrieval, disregarding our claims and supporting Pakistan in aiding terrorism having different yardstick to measure terrorism to meets its own ends .China itself a nation totalitarian with one party rule highly secretive where peoples voice is stifled and dealt sternly as happened in Tinnamann Square, Beijing 31 year back when students protested for more human right whichs ware trampled under tanks who mustered courage to raise voice, killing thousands in no time to restore internal order is their attitude to deal with their own people who exhibit dissent with Communist regime in Power.
The present posturing by China to position troops and entering in altercation on the Indo China borders which extends 3488 KMs triggering war fears both being nuclear powers. As per 1914 agreement the border with china is settled there was no such issue, presently to deflect the controversy of Corno they would like to raise new issue to cover a issue in which every nation have to pay a price for their intentional silence and this serious Humanitarian issue of this century turned as worst Pandemic after Spanish flu of 1918 due to the callous attitude of China. This sort of an incident never happened in the modern world when tremendous development in information technology and international understanding is in place but no preventive medical procedure is in sight making human beings poor scapegoats, waiting helplessly to get relief from deadly virus. People are mostly in isolation maintaining social distance with mandatory facial masks focussing to break the chain of human contamination
In 1947-49 about Chinese threat, a report during the period Dr .K M Pannikar was Indian Ambassador in Peking ,China who expedited withdrawal of Indian garrison from Lhassa, Tibet without settlement of India China Border issue not fully aware of the implications of Chinese President Mao security threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India.This Lhasa garrison could have been bargaining element against Chinese ambition of expansion. The existence of armed garrison in Lhasa gave status of Tibet between China and India besides securing religious cultural rights of Tibetans against unauthorised ingress of Chinese people into their territory.
On the other hand Dr.Pannikar was of firm view that unilateral withdrawal of Indian garrison from Lhasa would have salutary effect on India-China relations respecting Mc Mahan line traditional boundary formalised which was accepted but continues to harm our national interest keeping us engaged since the violation of Panchsheel and followed by 1962 war and there after frequent pin pricks and tension on borders..
China announced an investment of 46$ billion network of roads, railways and pipe lines across Pakistan to build China-Pakistan Economic corridor which connects Chinas Xiangiang province to Gawader port of Pakistan with Beijing. It provides direct access to China to the Arabia sea in the West. Apart from Gawader base China to increase its business participation with European union. It seems Pakistan army and ISI to mend fences with Jaish e Muhamad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar to tame fundamentalist restive Ughar Muslims in Sinkiang province.
China acts a big Headmaster to its neighbouring states to expand its illegal claim in South China Sea to establish its military establishments and control free flow of trade and to further reach up to Indian Ocean with bigger design to control Malacca straits to secure energy flow , Taiwan and control of Honkong are in its target to smoothen them, lest they may pose threat for democratic rights in its own country which is subjected to excess control fearing uneasiness after effects of Corno pandemic handling.
India is prepared to face any eventuality but would give chance to sort the issue through mutual understanding and a meeting is supposed to sort out the differences in perception with PLA in the north of Pangong tso and Gogra near Hot springs where earlier in 1959 on 21 Oct (National Police day) a police party was subjected to attack who were on routine patrol but were in disadvantageous position having no proper cover. The Chinese were on Hill top killed our ten brave soldiers led by Karam singh seconded by Tyagi of CRPF while defending frontiers of our country is their way of behaving with neighbouring countries killing our brave border guard stealthily .China has established itself not a dependable partner, we never understand what is brewing inside China against its permanent neighbours though giving contrary apparent impressions always a deception is their diplomatic art.
This time India will ask for return of movement of heavy weapons in Aksai chin area as we are committed to peace .Further the Diplomatic channels are working extra work to diffuse the situation, lest a small spark may not get ignited when the Indian Government is facing Corno Virus challenge to provide adequate health care to save its people.
In the present scenario we have to be Aatamnirbhar to discourage imports from a nation who does not respect mutual peaceful neighbourly coexistence and create our own needs ourselves rather than depending on others who thrive on our purchases and accumulate wealth and try to bully us when it suits them. We have sufficient Human trained capital, skill, technology, Knowledge, capital.The liberal lending policy announced support from government to put our economy back on rails which got hampered due to Corona pandemic lockdown. This will certainly be big shift of our economic policy to repay our adversaries in the same coin to restore our confidence on our own swadeshi goods to meet our needs rather importing from China cheap huge consignments of poor quality. This will improve employment opportunities with putting a sound foundation of strong industrial base using our own raw materials to revitalize our MSME to build our growth. They need our moral support and our patriotic fervour for encouragement. That is the modern weapon to deal economically the challenges we face who brow beat us till realization of interdependence on each other is recognized when no one wishes to lives in isolation in this modern era. We all need all to be united to focus a big push to make ourselves self reliant which may sort our many of our own lockdown declining economical issues besides our neighbour who is belligerent can understand our resilience..
(The author is former IPS officer)
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