Adventurism by China in Ladakh has not met with any success, instead, it has become a problem for China.
Historical Background
The Great Game conceptualised a policy of “buffer zones between the expansionist forces”, in the instant case Russia and British India. Russian Southward expansion was intended to be halted somewhere near Afghanistan or Tibet by converting these states into buffer zones. However, the “middle kingdom” surprisingly initiated claims over a sovereign and independent Tibet. Various treaties between British India and Russia hampered any indulgence in Tibet. However when the Chinese agreed on the McMahon’s division of Tibet by initialling on the text and the map, arbitrarily disagreed to sign the same document for its finalisation. In most of the attempts to divide Tibet, Aksai Chin was always shown as part of British India and rightly pencilled along with Kun Lun ranges while finally drawing McMahon line too.
As against the Indian leadership’s idea of Aksai Chin being inaccessible and valueless the Chinese had acknowledged the strategic importance of this part of the sub-continent way back in 1950 when Mao Zedong declared that Tibet was China’s right-hand palm and Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh its five fingers. The Chinese since then started manoeuvring to lay claim over these “five fingers”. Action to physically occupy these palm and fingers started with invasion and capture of Tibet in 1950. Post-1949 PRC recognised the McMahon line of Burma but not India because of its belligerent mindset that a country not under the direct Chinese control was unilaterally considered either a tributary or rebellious and that it would not be possible to annex the five fingers later if it recognises the McMahon line with India.
In the 1962 conflict, India was handed over its worst ever defeat with a deep scar and a fear psychosis in the minds of the Indian political masters and military’s top leadership. India may have lost the war but won many battles where stories of outnumbered Indian soldiers giving a bloody nose to the Chinese in spite of being in overall disadvantageous position activates the arrector pili muscles. Moreover, we often shy away to articulate about the successful Cho la and Sumdorong Chu incidents where the Indian soldiers killed more than 300 Chinese counterparts and forced them to retreat which was no less than a short war when seen in the light of numbers of casualties inflicted and success in a military operation against an adversary. China resolved its land border dispute with 12 out of 14 countries in its favour with an exception of India and Bhutan. This obviously substantiated its territorial intent towards India, notwithstanding Indian appeasement for a resultant peace by giving away its UNSC permanent seat, trusting Hindi- Chini Bhai- Bhai, failing to pledge Tibetan cause, allowing the dumping of Chinese goods in spite of prevailing trade deficit and tolerating salami slicing of our territory, all against its national interests. Endemic deficiency in realism and strategic vision of the Indian political and diplomatic leadership since 1947 manifested into the present situation.
Strategic Importance of the Terrain that China is Eyeing
McMahon line by default covers four important tri junctions of strategic importance on the crest of the Himalayas in Indian Territory. Karakoram pass co-located with Siachen Glacier on China-Pakistan-India tri-junction, Kalapani or Lipulekh pass on India- China- Nepal border, Dokhlam on Indo-Bhutan-China border and Diphu pass on Indo-Myanmar- China border. All these tri-junctions have tri- eccentricity when seen through Chinese prism i.e. possession of tactical heights for strategic gains, endanger India’s territorial sovereignty if not held physically and facilitate China’s most ambitious project of Belt and Road Initiative.
Siachen Glacier known as the third pole is an area of 76 sq. km located at an altitude of 23,000 feet. It is also the highest battlefield in the world. Temperatures go up to – 600 centigrade with rare oxygen and blizzards whipping up winds of speeds in excess of 150 km per hour. The combined impact of high altitude and cripplingly cold weather causes severe depression, hallucination, memory loss, blurred speech, frostbite, pulmonary and cerebral oedema, and even death. It is a huge water source for India. It is contiguous to Karakoram pass and was captured by India in 1984 by a whisker before Pakistan could do the same. It is wedged between Indian Aksai Chin occupied by China and the POK, thereby impairing geographical military linkage between both these allies at this location. Losing Siachen may have a ripple effect of losing other tactically important places especially DBO in Sub Sector North in Eastern Ladakh. This piece of land can be used as a launching pad when India reclaims its territory adjacent to Siachen. It is therefore occupied throughout the year at a very heavy human and financial cost.
Aksai Chin located at a height of 17000 feet is of the size of Switzerland. It is a barren part of Indian UT of Ladakh under Chinese occupation. Situated between the Chinese self-governing regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, it has a small number of natural resources. In the southwest is the Karakoram Range, the de facto border. Glaciated peaks in the middle part of this boundary are at a height of 6,950 meters. In the north lie the Kun Lun Range, the actual boundary between India and Tibet. The eastern branch of the area contains a number of small endorheic basins, largest being Aksai Chin Lake fed by the Aksai Chin river. At present China’s illegally constructed National western highway G-219 a strategic lifeline runs through Aksai Chin linking Kashgar in Xinjiang and Lazi in Tibet. This highway is a link between the littoral port of Gwadar and landlocked CARs, South Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Pacific region via BRI. The region is sparsely populated and houses an early trade route.
Kalapani or the Lipulekh Pass is situated on the tri-junction of India-China-Nepal. This small piece of alleviated land is situated at 17,000 feet and connects Uttarakhand and Tibet. There is a forward post of the Indian Army which provides the tactical advantage, acts as an observation and listening post to observe any Chinese build-up. In addition, its proximity to Chinese military locations in Tibet facilitates swift reaction by the Indian Army. For the Chinese, this could be an entry point, a foothold on the Indian Territory and fastest means of threatening New Delhi which is only 416 km. India has enhanced its military infrastructure and capabilities in this area.
Dokhlam plateau is situated at 15,000 feet on the tri-junction of India-Bhutan-China. Constant vigil and physical presence of Indian troops are imperative to avoid the occupation of the Siliguri Corridor by the Chinese being very close to Chumbi valley in Tibet. This corridor is also called the “Chickens Neck” which is only 22 km wide and connects the whole of North- East with rest of India and can be easily cut off by China, a devastating scenario in the event of a war. PLA triggered a stand-off with the Indian Army in 2017 when it started constructing a road in an area of strategic importance belonging to Bhutan. The Indian Army came to the rescue of its ally Bhutan in accordance with a defence treaty.
Diphu pass is situated at 15049 feet on the tri-junction of India-China-Myanmar. It is also a strategic approach to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. China has shown its duplicity by recognising the McMahon line with Myanmar up to Diphu pass but not its further extension into India. This pass is important for the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. This project gives China access to the Bay of Bengal and the eastern part of the Indian Ocean just opposite the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Arunachal Pradesh is mostly a crisscross of mountain ranges running north-south. It secures Bhutan’s Eastern flank by virtue of being contiguous to India. Tawang, the second most important monastery of Tibetans is located on the periphery. In case Tawang gets exposed, Bhutan would be subjected to Chinese pincer attack from both its flanks endangering India’s security since China’s borders would then rest on the plains of Assam posing a threat to the other northeastern states. The Chinese obsession with Tawang region is entirely strategic in its aim because this region has abundant water, natural resources and is closest to China proper. Arunachal Pradesh provides strategic depth to Brahmaputra valley and other North-eastern states of India. In terms of any air operations in this region, Arunachal Pradesh would provide multi-layered air defence deployments on the ground as deterrence and it is from this region that India’s missile ranges cover most of the Chinese heartland targets. India had refused a Chinese proposal of its swap in lieu of Aksai-Chin.
The Evolving Chinese and Indian Mind-set
The Chinese civilisation combined and formed one group around 1500 B.C. During the migration of civilisations from Shang to Zhou in 256 B.C., the development of China was enriched and well established which has persisted till today. Chinese ideology was traditionally bound by Confucianism i.e. Han Chinese which constituted 92 % of its population were socio-political in nature and contributed in making of a powerful, unified, self-confident and a homogeneous society giving them a feeling of belonging to one state. Chinese philosophy directed people to find fulfilment through socio-political activities.
On the other hand, due to the religious affinity, the socio-religious developments in India identified Indians with ideas and practices based on Hinduism. It was because of religious philosophy and its unique caste structure that evolved a social system strongly intermingled with the traditions of its culture, which influences the contemporary social and political behaviour. Hindu way of life, symbolised by high moral values of tolerance, truthfulness and justice constituted the core of Hinduism which sustained it during Muslim and British rule. The Indians seek spiritual realisation of the absolute by annihilation of ego which bind them to their finite individuality.
Both China and India had been regularly invaded causing breakdown of governance however China from Han to nineteenth century experienced strengthening of its culture thereby producing a close-knit society, and India from Maurya dynasty to the British rule saw a division facilitating growth of cast and regional culture areas in its own language. In a nutshell Chinese and Indian character can be compared as follows; firstly Chinese are socio-political; Indians are socio-religious; secondly Chinese by nature are assertive; Indians on the other hand are submissive; thirdly Chinese imperial system achieved permanency and stability, Indian imperial system was not established until the British rule; fourthly Chinese, in spite of having semi-colonial type of environment took their own decisions, where as India was bound by the political framework imposed by the British; fifthly Chinese military was prepared as a part of the political system, Indian military was kept apolitical and lastly, Chinese are communists and Indians are democratic.
Chinese Strengths and weaknesses
The Chinese strength lies in their history of inventions, discoveries, culture and the evolving mindset of community living. Chinese imperial system achieved permanence and stability due to the combination of military power and socio-political oriented Confucian ideology of a unitary government. It was therefore difficult even for the British to penetrate the Chinese tradition, culture and religious bonding. More than 92% population being Han there is less friction and being the most populated country in the world could use its diaspora for the furtherance of its interest. The one-party system is a boon because it can maintain continuity and therefore accountability. However, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Chinese became too obsessed with their historical concept of being a “Zhong Guo (middle kingdom)”. Their unchallenged expansionism and the autocratic and totalitarian activities failed to make allowance for the advent of change in democratic functioning and inevitably degenerated their strengths into weaknesses. Besides this Xi Jinping professed himself as the interminable ruler of China and decoupled choice from absolute power.
China has the third-largest land area in the world but its population is unevenly distributed i.e. 96% of its population is concentrated in one-third of its area in the eastern side and remaining 4% in the two-third area in the western half i.e. Tibet, East Turkmenistan and outer Mongolia which were annexed later into the Chinese territory. China has changed its demography and imposed harsh rules on them against their wishes resulting in their alienation and seeking for freedom. Moreover, China refuses to be a signatory to the UN water-sharing agreements to be able to use water as a weapon against the lower riparian countries. It has a maritime boundary dispute with littoral countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Japan. It refuses to acknowledge the UNCLOS and judgement on the resolution of maritime boundaries. In its desire to possess East and the South China Sea, it has antagonised the stakeholders in Malacca, Lombok/Makassar straits and further sea lanes of communication. The last resort of any nation is their army, which in the case of China is tailor-made for owing its allegiance to one man party rather than the Nation.
Reasons behind Chinese Belligerence
Xi Jinping wanted to emulate Mao and use PLA for fulfilling the palm and fingers fantasy of his master. Having got used to Salami Slicing of Indian territory without being stymied, unfortunately, tried the identical timeworn trick again without evaluating the present government in New Delhi. The elementary pretext was the abrogation of article 370 by India which changed the status of J&K with respect to the illegal occupation of Indian Territory by China and its ally Pakistan, which in bargain threatened its flagship CPEC project passing adjacent to this region. Moreover, the gusto of possessing and dominating the entire Himalayan heights is also evident from its move in Dokhlam, Nepal and entire McMahon line on the Indian side.
Having attained ascendency over cutting-edge technology stolen from Russia, US and other countries and making huge profits by indulging in “white-collar crimes” it fast-tracked to create new world order by adopting unethical means to replace US hegemony with their own. Fabricating veracity of Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent manipulation not only enraged the world but also the Chinese at home, furthermore the repressive one-party one-man model instead of enticing quick prosperity eventually backfired and degenerated the domestic and geopolitical prospects.
Present scenario
Much against Mao’s dreams Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh is still with India, forced Chinese salami-slicing and part-occupation notwithstanding. Sikkim integrated with India by its own choice in 1975. Nepal is independent and pursues its policy with great élan, despite present momentary Chinese allure of ideology and cheque book diplomacy. Bhutan too can’t be infiltrated till it is under Indian umbrella and the Chinese proposal of an embassy in Thimphu doesn’t seem imminent. Its approach to “liberate” the “five fingers” with military coercion as done in case of Tibet, therefore, needed to change. China prepared itself to fulfil this aim by simultaneously strengthening its economic and military prowess and ensuring continuity in its objective by proclaiming Xi Jinping as a lifelong dictator.
Asia’s century had started to witness China as a key variable in regulating world growth. However deceiving countries by stealing designs for reverse engineering, collecting world data by covertly intruding in the personal, private and governmental institutions, deceptive economic burglary and terrestrial terrorism slowly unfolded and antagonised the world. Since these countries were heavily indebted, they could not individually remonstrate against the Chinese. However, they were thunderstruck when the world got together to act against the Chinese unethical practices after they clandestinely mislead the world on Wuhan virus and used this moment of weakness to fulfil their covert aim.
Occupation of Indian Territory along McMahon line by Chinese Army in April 2020 became its Achilles’ heel when India responded with similar strength to dare the dragon. Chinese followed this up with clandestinely influencing Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Iran against India. In hindsight, the world realised that Chinese peaceful rise was inconsistent in reality and that a strong China was in fact dangerous for the world and disastrous for the region.
Indian Options
It is evident that the world is still dominated by realpolitik. India has to change to pragmatic realism and adopt proactive strategic stance. It is imperative to affirm China and its all-weather ally Pakistan as an adversary of India and review the foreign policy and alignment accordingly. We may continue economic and other activities in the national interest with due caution. We must claim area up to Kun Lun mountain ranges as per the McMahon line. India must not hesitate to include Sahidula post north of Karakoram pass and to be more realistic all those areas religiously associated with Indians like Mt Kailash and Kailash Mansarovar into its own territorial claim. We need to spread our own tentacles to countries having land and maritime borders with China especially Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan amongst others. India needs to master the integration of IW, EW, AI, Cyber, EMS, quantum computing, missile technology, space and 5G at war footing commensurate to the geopolitical environment. It would therefore be imperative to align with compatible countries like the US, Israel, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Moreover, drones which have become a force multiplier and game-changer in contemporary warfare should be integrated into the overall battlefield scenario. India must, on one hand, exploit the Chinese in-house weaknesses like freedom for Tibet, Outer Mongolia and East Turkmenistan besides inciting political disorder, challenges of undemocratic autocratic rule and subjugation of minorities in China and on the other hand embrace Chanakya Niti by building a closer relationship of mutual respect with its immediate neighbours. Likewise, Tibetans living in India and other countries must be encouraged to voice their concern in the UN and other platforms to keep the issue active and also use them for human Intelligence.
It is imperative to expand to a blue water navy to control sea lanes in Malacca and Hormuz straits and project power to dominate South and the East China Sea either independently or with QUAD and other like-minded countries to make passage difficult for Chinese ships and derange their economy. Every country big or small has a vote in the UN, therefore draw global cooperation to force a reorganisation of the UN structure especially the Security Council by including India as a permanent member based on its merit.
Conclusion
We are the slaves of our days-of-yore, but the nation cannot afford to repeat the strategic mistakes of the past. China, by daring to challenge India and other nations simultaneously has not only lost more than it has gained but also got exposed with respect to its covert geopolitical intent especially against India. China always got away unpunished due to absence of collective response. If it was prudent for the Chinese to deceive India time and again during its weak moments, it is equally prudent for India to use any means to teach China a lesson when it is weakest and the world is on a common platform. Chinese incursion, therefore, has to be challenged and dislodged at all cost. India should entice China to fight where it has an edge i.e. a conventional war between the Indian Army and PLA and avoid asymmetrical exchanges for the time being. Although India has taken the lead it is imperative that we, on one hand, cajole a collective response to bust the balloon of Chinese arrogance and myth and on the other hand manipulate and moderate trade and economic activity, re-position ourselves for a larger geopolitical role, if need be by tranquillising China, taking a proactive stance on international events and building asymmetrical warfare capabilities.
Title Image Courtesy :https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies
