LAC:-The tension between China and India on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has been going on for many years, and the lack of trust between the two countries has made it more serious, know here
LAC:-There has been a constant state of tension between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for the last four years. This tension deepened after the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020, in which many soldiers from both sides were killed. Since the Galwan violence, there have been several political and diplomatic talks between India and China to resolve the border dispute. However, despite these efforts, the aggressive activities of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and incidents of betrayal have created obstacles to establishing peace at the ground level.
Tension situation on the border since 2020
After the Galwan violence in 2020, military and political talks began between India and China, aimed at restoring stability and peace on the border. However, despite these talks, China repeatedly engaged in increasing its military activities and building permanent military bases on the LAC. These activities of China have indicated that it has no intention of returning to its previous position in the near future.
For India, it has become clear that building full trust on the border with China is a challenging task. The activities of the PLA show that China wants to maintain the dispute in strategically important areas such as Depsang and Demchok. Due to this, India has decided to continue its military deployment on the LAC even in winter.
Preparations for winter
The temperature on the LAC drops extremely low in winter, and maintaining the deployment of troops in these inaccessible areas is a difficult task. Nevertheless, the Indian Army has decided not to reduce its deployment this time too. A large-scale process of ‘winter storage’ is going on as part of the transition from ‘summer to winter’ conditions for the army. The Indian Army has started preparations to strengthen its deployment in the inaccessible areas of eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh-Sikkim.
This time the full deployment of Indian troops will continue even in winter, giving a clear signal to China that India is fully prepared for any misadventure. The top Army Commander-in-Chief meeting will be held in Gangtok, Sikkim on October 9 and 10 to review the current operational situation. The meeting will be attended by the Commanders-in-Chief of all the seven commands, including General Upendra Dwivedi, who will ensure that all the necessary resources are available for the deployment of troops in winter.
Military and diplomatic talks
India and China are continuously holding military and diplomatic talks to reduce tensions on the LAC and resolve the border dispute. Recently, the 30th and 31st meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) were held on 31 July and 29 August. After this, talks were also held between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 12 during the BRICS meeting in St. Petersburg.
However, on the ground, China’s PLA has maintained a deadlock in the Depsang and Demchok areas, ignoring India’s key demands. In the 21st Corps Commander talks held on 19 February 2023, China also rejected India’s efforts to disengage in Depsang and Demchok. The presence of PLA in these areas and their activities have remained a constant threat to India.
Buffer Zones and Disputes
Buffer zones have been created in the disputed areas between India and China to avoid direct conflict between the two armies. However, this buffer zone is a temporary solution and despite this Indian soldiers cannot reach many of their patrol points. Especially, Indian soldiers are facing obstacles in their activities in the areas around Depsang and Demchok.
China’s strategy and India’s vigilance
The construction of permanent security and infrastructure on the border by China is part of its long-term strategy. This policy of PLA indicates that China is trying to prolong the border dispute instead of resolving it. Due to this, India will have to exercise extreme caution in its military and diplomatic strategy.
A senior official said, “China’s strategy is to maintain tension for a long time and trap India. India has to avoid getting trapped in China’s tricks and remain alert.”The border dispute and tension between India and China is a complex and sensitive issue. While diplomatic talks are going on between the two countries, on the other hand, tension and mistrust persist at the ground level. India has decided to strengthen its military strength on the LAC in winter, making it clear that it is ready to give a befitting reply to any misadventure by China.