Dr Ganesh Malhotra
Since the times of developing China and Pakistan friendship Ladakh sector has remained main focus area for two hostile neighbours of India. China was able to cut in 1962 major portion of Ladakh i.e. Aksai Chin abandoned by our leaders as barren land. Similarly India lost strategic portion in Ladakh in subsequent years also which could give access to India towards northern areas of Gilgit Baltistan. India couldn’t capitalise golden opportunity created by our brave forces in Kargil conflict to regain lost areas across LOC due to submissive approach. Indian leaders boasted of not crossing LOC as their major victory. There were attempts to gift some strategic position in Siachen to Pakistan as “Mountain of Peace” as stated by former Chief of Army in his book. But Indian army resisted that move.
Emboldened by past strategic blunders of Indian decision makers China in June 2020 tried to orchestrate Kargil type situation to make dents in eastern sector of Ladakh finally Siachen and securing it’s hanging CPEC from any Indian threats.
Kargil intrusion was an attempt by Pakistani troops to capture some strategic points on Srinagar-Leh highway and to cut off Ladakh. Similarly the Chinese intrusion into the Galwan River valley PLA troops tried to capture access to strategic Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) highway and cut off the army’s lone year-round connection with its isolated “Sub-Sector North”, at the base of the Karakoram Pass.
PLA soldiers tried to establish themselves at the mouth of the Galwan River valley at its confluence with the Shyok River are just one-and-a-half kilometres from the DSDBO road. They tried to overlook the road, which goes along the Shyok River valley, and had plans to bring artillery and other weapons to prevent its use.
They never expected such bold retaliation from Indian troops and Political leadership standing like rock behind forces as never before. The response of global players like USA, Russia and other major powers was also an eye opener for china. USA declared to send its naval fleet in Pacific Ocean and install some fleets at the opening of Indian Ocean. Response of Australia and Taiwan also surprised China.
China was expecting India’s response like Kargil in which main emphasis was restraint rather than aggressive policy. But things have changed at all fronts since 1999. India since 2014 has worked aggressively on creation of infrastructure along borders particularly along China and Pakistan border.
India has stationed more than 140 tanks, a 100 plus BMPs and 100 artillery guns stationed in Ladakh. And then there is the 39 Mountain Division based in Himachal Pradesh which is the Udhampur-based Northern Command’s reserve force. This division, as well as units under the Srinagar-based 15 Corps can be deployed during emergency in addition to strtegic assets in Ladakh.
India also has adequate air build up in Ladakh. The Advanced Landing Grounds at DBO, Nyoma and Fuk Che are operational and heavy transport aircraft can transport troops, artillery guns and military hardware there. The Nyoma airfield is in process of up gradation to an air base where fighter aircraft can be stationed.
China also has air assets in the surrounding areas. But Chinese fighters operate at a disadvantage from the high-altitude airfields there. They have disadvantaged because of not able to carry adequate payloads and fuel and thus cannot operate at optimum levels.
Strategic experts point out that the situation has changed vastly since 1962 and the tables have in fact been turned against China. The Indian Army can meet the PLA head on and thwart any advances it makes.
This incident can’t be seen as an isolated incident. Internal politics of china, rivalry among leaders of CCP with Xi and humiliating face of China in world after being exposed on Corona pandemic cannot be ignored. In a run to cover all these happenings particularly situation in Hongkong and Taiwan Chinese CCP leadership need to give an appetiser to its people. China is very much worried about its hanging investments in CPEC particularly local protests in Gilgit Baltistan and Balochinstan and mounting pressure of India in POJK, Gilgit Baltistan and approaching infrastructure in areas around CPEC in Ladakh sector.
China never expected such a bold and prompt response of India not on just one front but opening of multiple front mainly economic fronts. India is big market for Chinese products and software industry. Banning of 59 applications, cancellation of contracts and response of civil society is remarkable. World public opinion was already aggregating against China due to Chinese Corona virus crisis but India’s response gave a lead to other countries. US, UK and many west European countries have responded by cancellation of contracts and banning of many other Chinese products.
India gave impression realpolitik by choking China at all fronts. PM Modi took lead and visited Ladakh sector followed by Visit of Defence Minister. This gave impression of India of 2020 totally different from India of 1962. The most criticised foreign visits of PM Modi firstly paid dividends as tacit international support to India during Balakot Airstrikes and now paying dividends during India-China standoff. For China it was awakening experience of isolation in world like its best friend Pakistan.
This crisis has also exposed the intellectual support base of China in India. In the name of criticism of Govt many intellectuals tried to compel Govt to share strategic information about India’s response.
Above all India has to introspect and improve more to give befitting reply to china. Firstly in order to give economic dent on China we have to create investor friendly conditions in country to lure investors to India instead of China because world has made up its mind very clear after this Chinese created pandemic. Secondly we need to create more world public opinion about real face of China as human rights violator like in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hongkong etc. Thirdly if Pakistan is fixed properly we can stop Chinese imperialistic journey to Indian Ocean. Last but not the least Chinese and Pakistani supporters sitting in India in the name of intellectuals need to be exposed and dealt with proper stringent laws for threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
(The author is a J&K based strategic and political analyst)
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