Indo-China conflict is not new as despite best efforts of India time and again to act as a good neighbour with China have ended up in deceit and confrontation. The expansionist agenda of China is major bottle neck between the relations of two countries. It can be gauged from the fact that while India’s border with China in official documents is 3,488 kms but China shows only 2,000 kms as it considers Askai Chin and many other places as its territory. Except middle sector border of Himachal and Uttarakhand with China, Western sector and Eastern sector have many disputes. Western sector is of Ladakh to Tibet to Kunlum mountain range to Karakoram Pass, authentic 1842 Treaty signed by Maharaja Gulab Singh, Lama Gurusahib of Lhasa and representative of than Chinese Emperor, further modified in 1897 as Johnson-Ardgah line, is basis of India’s claim on Aksai Chin being successor of British India and China in its official documents accepted even after independence. Rest is history how Pakistan-China collusively developed Karakoram highway and now CPEC corridor with numerous new settlements. On Eastern sector Sikkim and Arunachal Pardesh have Bhutan as buffer, Sikkim has only 220 km border but faced Chinese aggression in 1962 war and Nathula-Chola conflicts, but more or less normal after it joined India in 1975 and India restored its ambassadorial relationship in 1976 with China and 2003 mutual agreement by which China accepted Sikkim as Indian part and India accepting Tibet being part of China. China keeps on pricking Bhutan also, Doklam standoff this year itself. Arunachal Pardesh has seen establishment of Wangdung camp on Indian soil. The last flash point being LAC aggression in Ladakh with China refusing to go back to April-May 2020 positions like it did in 1962 war. Year 2020 saw multiple clashes including Galwan and Indian occupation of Kailash ranges and subsequent sixteen rounds of talks to de-escalate Galwan valley, Pangong Tso North, Gogra, Hot springs but Depsang plains and Demchok remains hot between two countries with China agreeing at one time and changing its stance after some time. Inch by inch encroachment is the official policy of China. More recent being Twang episode, another attempt to dislodge Indian soldiers and then claiming it as their land. Construction of parallel highway all along Tibet and Aksai Chin, building bunkers and ammunition dump are aggressive, unacceptable Chinese posturing, totally disregarding the previous agreements.
Now the latest skirmish at Tawang , same attempt to repeat Galwan valley episode with barbed baseball bats and other weapons. Once again brave Indian Army made PLA retreat. This is not going to work this time as in last two years, under present GoI, India has made leaps and bound progress in upgrading infra. Many ALGs already built, capacity building for all weather tank bunkers and drinking water arrangement in sub-zero temp, building all weather roads on war footing all along the border, stationing fighter aircrafts and making permanent arrangements for troops in thousands and easy maneuverability in shortest possible time is the order of today. It is no more 1962’s India and Indian troops are capable of defending every inch of Indian territory. Indian Forces have unblemished proven track record, as and when required they have not hesitated in offering supreme sacrifices to safeguard Indian interests/assets and present GoI is providing every logistic support , shortcomings, if any, are being taken care of. China has been time and again violated mutual agreements and PLA soldiers using barbed baseball bats against all war conventions. India has emerged on world forum under present regime which has not gone well with Chinese regime. India is also emerging as main alternative manufacturing hub as all major manufacturing companies are looking to move out of China due to its dominating policies. And the last one is recent COVID-19 lockdown troubles in China, to divert attention of domestic public and international audience it has once again tried another cowardly act but failed again. It’s time for all political parties to rally behind Government, whole nation stands united at this hour against China.