The recent face-offs have completely changed the way India and China interact at the border.
Over the weeks, the two nations engaged in a series of negotiations, which ultimately failed to give a permanent solution and have only aggravated the situation.
With the nationalism to fight China continued to rise across India, PM Modi finally intervened and addressed the nation on June 19, 2020.
“Nobody has intruded into our border, neither is anybody there now, nor have our posts been captured,” PM said in a statement.
He also clarified that the Indian Army has full freedom to handle the situations across the border.
Chinese experts have a different view to Modi’s words. They say Modi could be talking this way to address nationalists, clearly understands that India can’t fight China, and is trying to cool tensions.
Moreover, Modi’s statements come as a surprise to Indians after having heard about the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the recent face-off.
“When India is in conflict with Pakistan or other neighbors, nationalism might drive New Delhi to take actual operations, but when it comes to China, it is a different story,” says Lin Minwang, a professor at Fudan University’s Center for South Asian Studies in Shanghai.
He adds that heated nationalism is the most common thing in India.
He further stated that India hasn’t dared to launch a full attack against China in decades and only had low-level tensions occasionally.
Speaking on the matter, Indian economist Swaminathan Aiyer says the economic and military gaps between the two nations have almost grown five-fold after 1962.
In the event of self-defense, China would secure its territory and may not claim Indian territory. But India will lose a lot and go back to decades in terms of its global position and economy.
India’s Further Steps
A day after Modi asserted India’s stand, the Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said they have approved the Indian Army’s ‘tactical’ approach to deal with the border.
“The commanders at LAC (line of actual control) can now give troops complete freedom of action to handle situations at the tactical level,” one of the persons aware of the discussions said in a statement.
Under the previous rules of 1996 and 2005, the two sides cannot exchange fire or make explosions within 2-km across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Now, the new tactical approach allows staggered movement of patrols in key LAC areas and hold high positions for the Indian Army.
“I am glad the rules of engagement have been changed. They needed to be changed, given the way China has been acting in the past few years. This will allow the troops to fire in self-defense if necessary,” says former Indian Army Chief V.P. Malik.
More China Related News:
- ‘Trade Barriers, Duty Rise’ on 300 Chinese Products Likely!
- Indo-China Clashes: ‘Every Likelihood To Get Worse,” Say Experts
- China Plans To Initiate ‘Actions’ After Dialogue With India
- Anti-China Sentiment on Rising: ‘Remove China Apps’ App Trending!
- Indo-China Border: China Prefers ‘Dialogue’ Over Escalating Tensions
