The Indo-China Border: New developments in 2022
India and China share 3,488 kilometers of land border covering four states and one union territory of India. It is a high-altitude terrain with harsh climatic conditions leading to inadequate development of infrastructure. The two countries were at war in 1962 due to intractable border disputes which continue until now. This never-ending standoff between India and China does not receive much traction and is often reduced to a regional issue. The borders are until today not clearly demarcated and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is still a work in progress.
At the Beginning of 2022
This new year, China executed a new land border law to recondition the disputed boundaries with India [1]. PRC's land border law includes management and security of the border undertaken by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese People's Armed Police Force. It entails heightened surveillance and combatting illegal border crossings. The new law is a manifestation of civil-military nexus collaborating with locals near borders to augment border defense mechanisms. China is affirmed on its efforts to construct border towns or villages and gradually retrieve disputed and untitled land. The country has dramatized a similar tactic for reclaiming islands in the South China Sea. The law allows frontier villages to adopt various combative methods to secure the pride and spirit of China, on the other hand converting them into local militia bases. The border law has proved to be a major irritant for India absolving hopes to resolve disputes in 2022.
Amid the fortification of territorial claims by China around fragile boundaries, India calls for the improvement of such remote villages under its 'Vibrant Villages Program'. These villages with a sparse population, no connectivity, and inadequate infrastructure are left out of the developmental gains visible in the rest of the country. India also focussing on securing the first line of defense in remote areas as tensions with its neighbor are at a peak.
The year began with many rounds of inconclusive talks and continuous stalemate in regard to the ongoing border dispute. The 15th round of Corps Commander Talks was completed in March with no successful breakthrough after the heated standoff in the Western sector of the border [2]. Although both sides have agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground with respect to the Western sector in particular and adopt dialogue through military and diplomatic channels to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to other issues. The countries have already undertaken 14 rounds of talks for disengagement since the clashes erupted in May 2020, however, none of them provided a firm resolution.
The Indian Government has sanctioned the construction of 32 roads along the border with China after lessons learned from the Galwan incident in 2020. A huge share of the grant is anticipated solely for border infrastructure in the Budget Estimate of 2022-23. India is extremely attentive to the skirmishes in multiple locations along the LAC as well as the critical border areas of Arunachal Pradesh which forms the Eastern sector.
Technological advances have played a crucial role in the way warcraft is being conducted at this fragile border. Chinese media has stated that PLA is targeting to develop weapons using Artificial Intelligence. They have declared to deploy machine gun-wielding robots operated wirelessly from a command center situated at a distance. Indo-China border is difficult terrain for patrolling and surveillance, therefore, automated weapons on wheels would reduce the burden on stationed troops. India is not left behind in the race of novel technologies, the military for a long time seeking to procure advanced surveillance systems to protect land and sea borders more effectively. The country intends to deploy the S-400 missile defense system imported from Russia by June to counter the threats from China [3]. Previously, the Indian Army had installed K-9 howitzers in the Ladakh sector and now planning to deploy them in high altitude mountains in the Central and Eastern sectors of the LAC. These self-propelled guns have a range of 38 kilometers, albeit they are successful in targeting 50 kilometers in the mountains up to 16,000 feet in height in Eastern Ladakh. Further, the military would be positioning them in the border areas in Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh covering all the sectors terrorized by China.
The most recent incident flaring up problems in the Western sector is the Pangong bridge construction [4]. The Indian side is keenly monitoring the establishment of the bridge on the Pangong Tso Lake in the Chinese-occupied territory. This is the second bridge constructed in the same region after the one built in January this year. The bridge will provide a significant reduction in time for the PLA to move its troops and armored vehicles between the banks of the lake. It might give China an upper hand to access multiple routes to counter any plausible Indian operation on the southern banks of the lake.
In the Eastern sector, China has embraced different tactics to claim its territorial right. There have been frequent instances of China renaming areas in Arunachal and justify its illegal occupation that happened 60 years ago. These unsettling developments along the border are turning the issue much more complex and difficult to reconcile.
Problems of the Past
The land borders have remained quiet since the 2000s, however, the circumstances changed recently. It was in early May 2020 that the PLA and Indian Army engaged in clashes in Eastern Ladakh at the shores of Pangong Tso lake through which LAC passes [5]. The direct confrontation escalated in June after the Galway valley clashes. Apparently, the entire incident was triggered after the Chinese forces objected construction of an Indian road in the Galwan valley. During the months of May-June, China has already occupied around 65 square kilometers of land as per the findings of the Indian Government. Since then China was actively transgressing at Pangong Tso, Hot Springs, Gogra, Galwan Valley, and the Despang area. After a very long period, in September, shots were fired along the LAC. Amid disengagement talks later that year, China began to claim the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary located in the disputed region of Bhutan’s Trashigang district. PLA is tightening its presence and deploying more troops in all three sectors in the entire borderline. Reports indicate that the PLA is strengthening positions at Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, parts of north Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Ladakh region as noted before.
India and China are engrossed in multiple rounds of high-level diplomatic and military talks since the beginning of 2021 to alleviate the tense situation. This has resulted in the mutual pulling back of active troops from various standoff points. However, complete disengagement remains a distant outcome as still both sides maintain 50,000-60,000 troops with artillery, heavy tanks, and rocket launchers. Moreover, both countries are determined in building infrastructure along the LAC increasing distrust and suspicion. In conclusion, the relationship between India and China is currently going through a highly difficult phase. India has expressed absolute clarity that it will not budge and agree to any change in the status quo regarding existing territories or any possible unilateral attempt by China to alter the LAC.
Way Forward
The standoff between India and China has entered its third year and evident friction has not yet been absolved. The cold and bitter relations could reach a stage of thawing only through diplomatic channels, however, the series of meets between the two sides are bearing no positive results. Additionally, troops are actively disengaging from various fringe sites but many remain unresolved. Only after a complete withdrawal from the rest of the areas, peace and tranquillity would be restored and bilateral relations would progress. The heated border dispute incurs excessive pressure on the economic ties between the countries. Trade and investment undergo massive scrutiny hindering economic advantages on both sides.
Securing and bolstering the safety of border areas is the utmost priority of the Indian Government, hence, the budget for Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) scheme especially for the Indo-China border has increased six times compared to 2020-21 [6]. It is important to take a multi-pronged approach to ameliorate border security including deployment of border guarding forces along international borders, effective patrolling, manning observation posts, periodic reviewing of surveillance techniques, the establishment of new border outposts, border fencing, adopt updated equipment, and so on.
As suggested by the present National Security Advisor of India, "Early and complete disengagement in the remaining areas in the Western sector is necessary along with ensuring that actions do not violate the spirit of equal and mutual security".
References
[1]https://theprint.in/opinion/brahmastra/china-land-law-to-new-acquisition-why-2022-is-a-critical-year-for-indian-military/786782/
[2]https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-breakthrough-in-15th-round-of-india-china-talks-to-end-lac-impasse/article65217726.ece
[3]https://www.wionews.com/photos/s-400-missile-china-pak-threat-and-pentagons-take-on-indias-defence-481198#india-china-row-481192
[4]https://www.livemint.com/news/india/illegal-occupation-of-our-territory-india-on-china-s-second-bridge-across-pangong-lake-11653051121147.html
[5]https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/13/india-china-border-talks-crisis/
[6]https://www.firstpost.com/world/six-time-hike-in-budget-for-security-of-areas-along-the-india-china-border-says-centre-10520481.html
Pic Courtsey-Ling Tang at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
