Hyderabad: In the past half a century, the worst incident of violence in Galwan Valley of Ladakh region saw troops of India and China inflicting heavy casualties albeit without a single bullet being fired by either of the sides.
What is it that led the Chinese army’s aggression of attacking Indian army personnel with iron rods, stones and with fist-blows and kicks?
Many answers simultaneously come in the minds of people who have been closely following developments related to China.
China appears to have vented out the anger it tamed for a long time. The point of eruption--Patrol Point 14 near Galwan valley, on the DBO road--is significant where, on Wednesday night, the Indian patrol came face to face with Chinese troops for bloody combat. The soldiers fell in the region that was previously manned by the Indian troops.
Line of Actual Control (LAC)
Line of actual control a loose border arrangement between India and China through a concept of ‘differing perception’ where armies of both the nations patrol up to their perception points.
There is no specific demarcation line drawn between the two countries in the Ladakh region thus leaving it to the perception of military leadership on the ground to define up to which point they should patrol following the protocols defined by both the countries mutually.
The LAC is a high altitude region mostly manned by armies and on some points by ITBP on the Indian side.
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The Pangong Lake on the eastern side of Ladakh and Galwan valley at the LAC are mainly contentious areas.
One-third of the lake is with China and the rest is with India.
There are two geographical points called finger 4 and finger 8. Chinese consider finger 4 as LAC and India consider it at finger 8.
The violent faceoff between both the armies took place in Galwan valley Durbok, Shyok, DBO road.
This is the main road which is important for re-supply to north Ladakh. The Galwan valley is important because it protects the main road. This explains why Chinese troops made an attempt to reach finger 4 and became the bone of contention between the two armies.
Galwan Valley
Galwan Valley is strategically important for the Indian army. Aksai Chin in the backyard of Galwan making it equally important for China.
The Chinese understand the importance of Galwan for India as the valley gives protection to the DBO road which is like a lifeline for the Indian army deployed at the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
One of the reasons that Chinese troops chose Galwan for the latest faceoff is that it aims to change the status quo at this crucial landmark. The Indian side approached the point through a protocol consequent to June 6 parleys between the two sides at the Corps Commander level.
The army unit led by Col B Santosh Babu was well within the protocol to embark on a process of de-escalation on LAC when he found some structures there and started dismantling them.
The Chinese troops deployed in strength retaliated violently. They had come prepared and had clear instructions to use violent methods, unlike the Indian side which from day one of the conflicts wanted to settle the issue amicably.
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There are many triggers that led to fatalities. Among them is the change in the status quo of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Another irritant for China on the LAC that instigates them for the violent means is probably the unabated infrastructural development from roads to the bridges connecting the cutoff areas and making villages connect through motorable roads and making the life of nomads on the LAC easy. The uneasiness from the Chinese side was quite perceptible after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was brought under the direct rule of the government of India.
Jammu and Kashmir's erstwhile government, be it of Ladakh or other areas, were a party in the border disputes but that legality stands illegitimate now and has lost the relevance after the implementation of the new reorganization law.
It is not that the borders in Ladakh were not itchy or uneasy.
Military level talks between China and India would happen almost every week. The approach was in total sync with the political understanding at the national level to avoid the opening of multiple fronts.
But this time hostilities with the neighboring countries are rife. China escalated the situation at a time when it enjoys a good amount of support from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was described as the game-changer in the region.
The connection between Kashgar and the Arabian Sea through Gilgit-Baltistan (POK) is going to boost the Chinese economy.
Pakistan's overwhelming support to the CPEC project has earned its full backing on and over its international requirements on Kashmir.
China has always been with Pakistan to support its 'cause' for Kashmir’s secessionist movement and protection blacklisting from FATF.
In fact, China tried to save known militant commander Maulana Masood Azhar who had entered into Indian territory on a Portuguese passport disguising as a journalist and subsequently arrested in Kashmir and later released in exchange of passengers on board IC-814 Air India flight which was hijacked on way to Punjab from Nepal.
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Azhar launched Jaish-e-Mohammed (militant organization) and would operate from Gilgit Baltistan areas.
China tried to protect him while India was getting him blacklisted in the United Nations as a global terrorist.
Militants have a nuisance value in POK. China never wanted to have any disruption on the road construction sites which primarily could have happened if people like Azhar wouldn’t have been taken on board.
Now the question remains as to what India should do to not allow it to be squeezed from all the major three fronts.
To diffuse tensions and to restore normalcy with Nepal is what India should take as one of the main agendas.
Second, leaving China's issue for diplomatic and political solutions and keeping military option the last resort that too when political means are fully exhausted.
The LoC, a never-ending issue, has to be separated with LAC but it looks highly impossible as both China and Pakistan are aligned to each other through a symbiotic relationship.
Winning a war without being hostile is what will happen in China's case otherwise it is going to lead to a big disaster for all the concerned parties.
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