Resolve and prudence

Context: The recent intrusions by China in Ladakh has created challenges to the sovereignty and integrity of India. India must guard against complacence. 

Strategic Importance of Ladakh: 

• Pivotal role in security spectrum: Kargil war, Operation Meghdoot of 1984 (capture Siachen glacier), hostile regions of Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan to west and China occupied Aksai Chin in east, defines the strategic significance of the region.  

China's Assertiveness : 

• Twisting the crisis into strategic opportunity: by taking advantage of the geopolitical distractions.
• Following Sun Tzu’s dictum of subduing the enemy without fighting:
• China intercepted and detained Vietnamese fishing boats near the Paracel archipelago.
• Declared two new municipal districts to control the disputed islands.
• Published Chinese names of 80 geographic and underwater features in the South China Sea.
• Imposed fishing moratorium on other countries.
• Intruded into Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.
• Crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait. 
• Harassed commercial vessels from the Philippines.

• Chinese tactics with India:

• Nibbling away land: As Pakistan follows “bleeding India by a thousand cuts“ policy, China takes recourse to deceptive rubric of “perception of claim lines”.

• During Kargil war: China extended a 5-km road into Indian territory along the banks of Pangong Lake. 

• Reclaiming the Middle Kingdom: Mao Zedong considered Tibet as China’s right-hand palm which is detached from its five fingers — Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Arunachal.

• Predatory debt diplomacy: In addition to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, other Belt and Road initiative projects generate threats of debt diplomacy.

Way forward:

• Avoid a complacent attitude: Peace must not be preached at the cost of territorial integrity (Wuhan Spirit and Mahabalipuram meetings)
• Reticence attitude: the first denial of an Indian patrol should have been necessitated attention from the government.
• Convening an all-party meeting: on the exchange of views with respect to intrusions.

• Restoring Status Quo Ante: In east Ladakh where the transgressions happened.
• Consolidate solidarity: India should continue to consolidate its solidarity among neighbours and all democratic powers of the world.

• Defence preparedness: Should be pursued to insulate from unpleasant surprises; powder must be kept dry to meet any eventualities, promptly. 
• Addressing strained ties with Nepal: Restore the “roti-beti” (intimate) relations with Nepal through diplomacy.

• It must not be taken as an advantage by China

• Form a review committee: similar to the Kargil Review Committee to ascertain the lapses
• Maintain Communal harmony: embedded with equity and prosperity in the country.