The tensions between India and China do not appear to be on a downward curve. While India is busy trying to lessen the tensions on the LAC, China does not appear to be in a cooperative mood. Sources suggest that around 40 to 50 PLA soldiers, armed with spears and other sharp-edged weapons as well as guns, have come just a few metres from the Indian Army position on the heights north of Rezang La in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese Army, in an attempt to demonstrate its military prowess, also conducted aerial firing in Ladakh. According to sources, this is a thought out action: While the political leadership will talk about easing tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the PLA will keep the borders burning. Sources add that China plans to keep the LAC hot till the US presidential elections and see if there’s any change of the guard there.
Sources in the security establishment told The Daily Guardian that the long-term intention of China is to create instability in India. For this very purpose, there is unrest being created on the 3,488 km long LAC. The long-term plan, sources say, is to put further stress on India’s economy which is already facing a big downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
China appears to engage Pakistan’s aid in engaging India on the LoC as well with constant effort to push Nepal into a conflict with India, while at the same time hoping that after the presidential elections in the US in November, the next incumbent there is more favourable towards the Dragon.
Sources state that China intends to ensure that the areas of Aksai Chin remain under Chinese command and for the same, has pushed infiltrators into the areas of Pangong Lake, Gogra Post, the strategically important Depsang and Galwan Valley. Top defence sources say that President Xi Xinping had given permission to Chinese troops for military movement earlier this year. China is trying to secure its interest in the Ladakh region on the pretext of a buffer zone. It wants to keep the highways passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir through Aksai Chin, Karakoram route away from India’s surveillance.
According to sources, China wants the Galwan valley-like retreat of both Indian and Chinese forces in the other region of Ladakh. The Dragon wants the area to be evacuated from this retreat to be converted into a buffer zone until the boundary dispute between the two countries is resolved.
Chinese officials seem to be working on a strategy to prolong the case by playing a planned double game. China’s Foreign Minister and Defence Minister are constantly emphasising on the solution of the problem, but the Chinese side is not implementing it. Rather, China is constantly trying to show that India’s stubborn stance is responsible for this entire situation. Its leaders are constantly making the same allegations. China is also not paying attention to the appeal of India’s foreign ministry. Nor is the agreement reached between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in the third week of June and the Special Representative of the two countries (NSA Ajit Doval and State Counsellor Wang Yi) on 5 July.
In the wake of tensions between India and China, all eyes are on the presidential elections in the US. It is speculated that the presidential result in America will have a direct impact on the escalating tension between the two countries. Both Indian and Chinese diplomats state that a lot is weighing on the US presidential elections.
According to the 1996 agreement between India and China, neither China nor India can fire arms within 2 km of the Line of Actual Control. Agreements were signed in 1993, 1996 and 2013 to ensure peace remains on the LAC. But after the violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan on 15 June, it was clear from the Indian side that the local commanders have been given absolute clearance to act according to the need of the hour.