The
recent statements made by Chinese Ambassador in Delhi, Sun Weidong, over the
Ladakh border crisis and its aftermath clearly exposes the hidden agenda of
China to assert de facto/de jure confirmation and recognition of their
perception of Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the real version. Let none suffer
from illusions on the above count.
During
a virtual address to a think tank in New Delhi, Sun Weidong claimed that
“disengagement has been completed at most locations”. At the same time, Sun Weidong blamed India
troops for the “unfortunate” Galwan Valley clash in mid-June and added that
neither side wanted to see such an incident.” His “double speak” is glaringly clear.
In
reality, the current PLA dispositions in the Finger 5-8 areas of Pangong So
area or Gogra, Depsang Plains and other border areas in Ladakh comes as no
surprise at all and clearly reveals their military and political
intentions.
Of
course, Indian External Affairs and military spokespersons have clarified that
disengagement has still not been completed at Patrolling Point 17A and Pangong
Tso. The Indian Army’s objective is simple - additional deployment of troops in
Ladakh, estimated to be around 35,000 soldiers is directly linked to
restoration of status quo ante as of April.
Let
me highlight that Chinese PLA troops will not pull back to Finger 8 as per the
Indian perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and also in other areas.
Even Xi Jinping may not direct his troops to pull back beyond Finger 8 in
Pangong Tso or Gogra areas.
Whereas
the Chinese posture is status quo, India’s demand is restoration of status quo
ante.
Restoration
of status quo ante involves reduction of additional troops deployed by both
sides on the border, removal of new infrastructure constructed in contentious
areas and restoration of patrolling rights as exercised before the current
standoff began in early May.
Sun
Weidong has been most insensitive, indiscrete and thoughtless by resorting to a
number of phrases – political and economy front – to hurt Indian feelings and
further estrange people’s sentiments.
In
the political dimension, Sun Weidong compared India-China ties to “exquisitely
crafted glass” that could be broken by “recklessness within seconds”. In the second
week of July 2020, Sun Weidong had also highlighted the need for China and
India “should meet each other halfway” to “overcome” the “complex situation” in
ties and “turn it around as soon as possible” to avoid unnecessary
confrontation or disharmony with a view to restore peace and stability. Now,
his tone is totally different from his past pronouncements.
Yet
another veiled blackmail by Sun Weidong when he stated that “new disputes”
could arise if one side tries to unilaterally decide the alignment of the LAC.” "Pending an ultimate settlement, we both
agree to work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border
areas," he said, adding that peace was of "paramount importance"
to China. Such statements are a clear reflection of “blow hot, blow cold” or
“double speak” which do not lend for any breakthroughs is restoring peace and
tranquility on the borders and normalization of relation between the two
neighbors.
Ipso
facto, Sun has only expressed “Beijing’s His Masters Voice”. Sun Weidong blatantly violated diplomacy
norms by insinuating Indian army and India for their intractable and
irreversible postures.
In
reality, China has been bidding for time to seize the opportunity to pursue its
expansionist and hegemony since Deng Xiaoping’s rule from 2980s – the “Four
Great Modernization Drive”.
Hu
Jintao during his reign had stated that the first two decades of 21st century
would be relative peaceful; and China should pursue the end objective of
achieving “Comprehensive power by 2030”.
Now,
Xi Jinping’s has built up on his predecessors policies and scripted lines of
his “Chinese Dream”, Grand strategy and military strategy.
Since
2015 Xi Jinping’s clearly defined his “Vision” – achieve the great rejuvenation
of the Chinese nation to regain the Middle Kingdom status. He also crafted the “Chinese Dream” to
include: Two Centenaries – by 2021 (CCP anniversary) build a modern socialist
country that is prosperous and strong; democratic, culturally advanced and
harmonious in all respects, with a strong military to make China the world’s
dominant power by 2049, that is, when Peoples Republic China marks its
centenary.
Furthermore,
as the head of the CMC, Xi Jinping has outlined the military strategy as
“Creeping Incrementalism and Extended Coercion”, popularly nowadays known as
“Salami Slicing” to seize control over border regions.
All
Chinese actions either in the South China or East China Seas or Hong Kong
crackdown or Xinjiang’s concentration camps or Taiwan and now on the Indo-Tibet
border, particularly in Ladakh are the forerunners of what is likely to follow
in the run up to 2049.
If
the past the large number of intrusions across the LAC on annual basis is any
indication including the Doklam conflict in 2017, Sun Weidong high moral posturing
calling for building “mutual trust” and “need to respect and accommodate mutual
core interests and major concern”, and “adhere to the principle of
non-interference in each other’s internal affairs” blatantly exposes China’s
diplomatic fraud.
Let
none suffer from illusions that China under Xi Jinping is deliberately and
calculatively moving ahead to emerge as the hegemonic nation not only in the
Asian regional context but also on the global scenario.
On
the economy front, Sun Weidong has attempted scaremongering, more aptly,
blackmailing by his veiled threats: “highly complementary, interwoven and
interdependent”, adding that “forced decoupling is against the trend and will
lead to lose-lose outcome for both sides.” And, “the so-called ‘decoupling’ of
China-India economic and trade relations” will “only harm without benefit to
oneself, and it will eventually hurt oneself as well”; “Any self-protection,
non-tariff barriers and restrictive measures against China are unfair to
Chinese enterprises, unfair to Indian employees who lost their jobs as a
result, and unfair to Indian consumers who cannot get access to the products
and services they deserve. In retrospect, Sun Weidong has indulged in economic
blackmail.
When
conjointly viewed from political and economy points of views, Sun Weidong has
conveyed China’s obdurate strategic end objective of achieving the Xi Jinping’s
Chinese Dream –Rejuvenation of the Middle kingdom status” by 2049 if not
earlier.
Indian
political and bureaucratic decision makers must unite and take on headlong the
Chinese Onslaught. “We the People” must also rise to the occasion and be
prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of consolidating sovereignty and
“Pride of Place” in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region – sphere of
influence.
Otherwise,
Chinese “Dragon” would soon swallow not only Ladakh but also claim the entire
Arunachal Pradesh and other disputed areas in the Northeast and Central Sector
by 2030 or even earlier if India concedes to China’s LAC claims in Ladakh.
So,
the Indian “Elephant” must prepare to face the “Dragon” onslaught ‘head-on’
from all dimensions of national security to secure India’s sovereignty and
security.
Article by Brig (Retd) G B Reddy Sir
gundreddi5@gmail.com
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