Can the Chinese be trusted? Their record says no. Normally what they say, they don't mean and are in the habit of land grabbing and unilateral actions through inducements, if that doesn't work, then threats. Recently, Li
Keqiang, Premier, People’s Republic of China visited India. He said, ‘Our two
countries must shake hands and conduct exchanges so that together we can raise
the standing of Asia in the world.’
In the wake of
the recent border dispute, India and China are making efforts to rebuild ties,
factoring in political and economical realities on the ground. But before we
look further, let us peep at the past, with tension on the 3,488 km of the India-China
Line of Actual Control from time to time.
Shaksgam
valley – Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km to China in 1963.
Demchok –
China claims that India has occupied 500 sq km in Demchok.
Finger area –
In 2008, Chinese troops took down 3 Indian Army fibre glass huts on 7 Nov at
Doka La.
Barahoti – In
2011, two Chinese choppers landed 4 km inside the LAC on the Indian side on 23
August. Troops took down 17 fortifications, Earlier there was a 21-day face-off
here in August 2002.
Asaphila area
– In 2011, around 44 Chinese troops set up tents 3km inside Indian territory in
the Asaphila area on 15 August.
Depsang – In
2013, a platoon of PLA troops ventured 10 km into Indian territory on 15 April.
They withdrew on 5 May after India took a tough stance. The Depsang incursion
may have revived bitter memories of the 1962 Indo-China border war which many
won’t forget in a hurry. India faced humiliation against the Chinese aggression.
It had hurt the Indian sentiments very badly.
After promises
of peace, China builds 5-km road crossing LAC. The intrusion took place on May
17, two days before Chinese PM Li Keqiang arrived in Delhi.
China claims
70,000 sq km of territory in Arunachal Pradesh as under Indian occupation.
China can
deploy 6.8 lakh troops to the border within a week. Can India match this given
the poor infrastructure; though India now in earnest is developing roads, basic
infrastructure and airbases for quick movements of troops and weapons.
Nepal and Bhutan – China has minor territorial issues with Bhutan. In Nepal, it
interferes over Tibetan refugee problems. China is also eyeing hydroelectric
schemes in Nepal.
Veitnam – The
two communist states stare at one another due to China’s expansion of its South
China Sea claim has led Veitnam to seek allies, weapons and more.
Philippines –
With no navy or airforce, this country has been surprised to find itself on the
frontline of China’s South China Sea claims and facing harsh economic sanctions
by China.
Taiwan – China
claims it to be a rebel province, not independent at all.
Japan – It is
China’s enemy number one. Despite Japan’s huge trade and investment in China, Beijing
has been unrelenting in it’s island dispute with Japan. Even a pro-China
government in Tokyo made no difference.
South Korea –
bombed and harassed by North Korea, it has come to believe China is tolerating
this activity by its main Asian Ally.
Mongolia –
Disputes over natural resources and ethnic minorities have led this otherwise
mild-mannered nation to invite the Dalai Lama.
The present
bilateral trade between India and China is $66 billion and is expected to touch
$100 billion by 2015. Just as bilateral trade and investment will bring the two
countries closer, but the political issues and border dispute is a reality,
which needs a mature diplomacy with give and take. The recent Depsang incursion
resulted in uproar in Parliament and rhetoric from opposition leaders like
Mulayam Singh Yadav, announcing, ‘drive away the Chinese, if required, let’s go
for another war with the Chinese’ ; without realizing the implications of this
war. Mature leadership and smart diplomacy is the need of the hour.
If India and
China, the two Asian giants are to come closer, they should engage on a equal
footing with mutual respect for each other. Love thy neighbor will only be
possible with engaging the dragon! And China should be sincere in its efforts
to solve the remaining vestiges of history with India, with a new and modern outlook
with a global role for both the Asian giants.
