Why has the situation in some areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)between #IndiaChina become so ‘hot’ in recent days? The two sides exchanged fisticuffs and belligerent noises have been made. It is true that transgressions along the line are not new occurrences. But..1/8
#Boundary India and have established a number of protocols since 1993 to maintain peace and tranquillity and promote CBMs in the border areas along the LAC. These arrangements have worked pretty satisfactorily for many years now. But suddenly they appear to be fraying.2/8
#1962Conflct between IndiaChina was preceded by a few years of jockeying and jousting for positions in both the Eastern but mainly in the Western Sector (Aksai Chin/Ladakh).India felt the Chinese were advancing their reach to gain more territory in Ladakh.3/8
The Chinese felt we had launched a deliberate policy (‘Forward’ is a misnomer) to tailgate their posts in Ladakh. In the Eastern Sector differing interpretations of the alignment of the McMahon Line also caused various dust-ups with serious consequences. #Boundary #IndiaChina 4/8
Taken together, with deterioration in relations with the flight of Dalai Lama to India, the rebellion in #Tibet, internal Chinese dissonance and failed Maoist policies, growing rigidity of Indian political, parliamentary opinion, die for #IndiaChina #borderconflict was cast.5/8
#IndiaChina Today, with our infrastructure reach slowly extending into areas along the LAC, Chinese threat perception is raised. Xi Jinping’s China is the proponent of a hard line on all matters of territory/sovereignty India is no less when it comes to these matters either. 6/8
The 73-day stand off in Doklam, 2017, in Bhutan, created a new normal. The situation is more kinetic now. There is no jointly agreed definition of the LAC in any of the sectors covering the border areas. India has advocated this for years. But China demurs. #IndiaChina 7/8
#IndiaChina Given absence of line of separation and mutual distancing between sides, no jointly highlighted areas of difference of perception of LAC , we r bound to see more such incidents which now, additionally, have potential to turn into armed confrontation and conflict.8/8
