A risky new status quo

GS paper 2

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India and affecting India’s interests etc

Directions: This is from an editorial piece.

Source: The Hindu

Context:

• India and China completed disengagement in Patrolling Point 15 (PP15), pulling troops back to create a demilitarized buffer zone.

Issues associated with buffer zone creation:

• Patrolling: It inhibits India’s ability to patrol its own territory.
• Limits activities: The buffer zones and Depsang’s status limit India’s military activities near the LAC.

Issues still persisting between India and China :

• No return back: The reinforcements that each side deployed since 2020 have not returned to the garrison.
• Military infrastructure: Both sides have raced to build permanent military infrastructure near the border.
• Claim over Arunachal Pradesh: China still claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own.

Strategic implications for India:

• Reassignment: India has reassigned one of three originally Pakistan-facing Strike Corps to the China front.
• Newest artillery and other equipment: It has deployed its newest artillery, fighter jets, and drones to the China border.

Conclusion:

• Asian balance of power: The capabilities to project military force across the Ocean, coerce or defend smaller regional States, and establish an enduring strategic presence there, will determine the Asian balance of power.
• Continued “disengagement and de-escalation: This could be a golden opportunity for Indian planners to work towards long-term military modernisation and political influence across the Indian Ocean region.

Insta Links:

India-China relations

Mains Links:

Q. China is using its economic relation and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia” In the light of this statement. Discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (UPSC 2017)

Prelims Links:

• India China border mapping
• PP15
• LAC
• Buffer Zone
• Galwan valley