DOKLAM CRISIS
The standoff between India and China at the Doklam plateau which lies at a tri-junction between the India, China, and Bhutan has gained much attention in the recent years. It has turned into the biggest military stand-off between the two armies in years. There are many who even fear a war.
What is Doklam?
• The offensive stand of China on Doko La (Doklam) and India’s strong warning in return, is the latest addition to the worries that spoil Indo-China relations.
• It started when India (Indian Army) objected a road construction by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in the Doklam plateau which China claims to be a part of its Donglang region. However, India and Bhutan recognise it as Doklam, a Bhutan territory.
• Later, China accused Indian troops of entering in its territory and India accused the Chinese of destroying its bunkers (People’s Liberation Army bulldozed an old bunker of the Indian army stationed in Doklam).
• Thereafter China stopped the passage pilgrims heading toward Kailash-Mansarovar through the Nathu La pass, Sikkim. The route is a better alternative to Lipulekh route via Uttarakhand and had been opened for pilgrims in 2015.
• Hereafter, both India and China increased the presence of their troops and since then there has been a war of words especially from the Chinese state media.
• Although a military standoff was averted, diplomatic negotiations have not yielded many results to cool-off the passions across the border.
Why is Doklam so critical?
• Doklam (Zhoglam or Droklam or Donglang) is a narrow plateau lying in the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan.
• China believes Doklam to be a disputed territory between Bhutan and China.
• It, therefore, contests the presence of Indian army in the region as a transgression.
• The disputed region is very close to India’s Siliguri Corridor which connects the seven north eastern states to the Indian mainland.
Why is India supporting Bhutan in the Doklam issue?
• Bhutan and India have a very cordial relationship where as Bhutan and China do not have formal relations.
• Bhutan has a very strategic position considering India’s geography.
• To foster the relationship, India and Bhutan signed a ‘Friendship Treaty’ in 2007 that commits India to protect
Bhutan’s interests and the close coordination between the two militaries.
• Also, India is worried that if the road is completed, it will give China greater access to India’s strategically vulnerable “chicken’s neck” (Siliguri Corridor) that links the seven north eastern states to the Indian mainland.
• Is Indian border ready to face challenges?
• India clearly is far ahead of what it was in 1962, both militarily as well as infra-structurally. However, to undermine China would be to relive the fallacies that led to the 1962 war.
• The ‘Theory of asymmetry’ does not hold ground when dealing with China. Therefore, a rational policy of dialogue is essential. Along with that, seeking gains on the works which have already done must be the target. (Note: Theory of Asymmetry is an approach of capitalising on the huge asymmetry in resources by the major party, followed by a show of magnanimity and conciliation. While this approach is a possibility when dealing with Pakistan, it can’t be the way forward in case of China)
Negatives
• Contrasting the border readiness of the two, for instance, we see stark distinctions, more often, revealing a Chinese upper-hand.
• As of now, only 21 of the proposed 73 roads have been developed by India for the Indo-China border (Also the revised target is now 2020 instead of the original target, 2012).
• China, on the other hand, developed and still developing their borders in the pretext of CPEC, OBOR or even otherwise (as in the case of Doklam). This exposes how we are lagging behind in connectivity of our border posts.
• The ‘Mountain Strike Corps’ of India, specifically proposed to be raised to check the Chinese influence, has a strength which is much less than the proposed strength. Along with that, the force is not yet equipped with advanced armouries that were envisioned for them.
Positives
• The recent initiatives including Dhola-Sadiya bridge (Bhupen Hazarika Setu-9.2km-Connects Assam with
Arunachal Pradesh) are a welcome step as they help bring down the travel time and as such, a military response time as well.
• A Brahmos cruise missile regiment is being deployed in Arunachal Pradesh. This clearly signals Indian intentions to China, that finds every opportunity to reiterate its sanction over the territory.
• Many abandoned airstrips in India are also being reactivated. Though thought-provoking, it is a step towards the right direction.
WUHAN SUMMIT (April 2018)- First informal Summit
Indian PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had an informal meet in the Chinese city of Wuhan. China’s assent to going for an informal summit with India needs a deeper analysis in the prevailing geo-political scenario.
How does it benefit India?
• Until the 2019 elections, the government in power would prefer to avoid any border threats.
• This is particularly in relation with problems with Pakistan.
• India used the summit as a kind of assurance from the Chinese.
• It is to ensure that China, as Pakistan’s benefactor, did not interfere on the border.
INDIA-CHINA 2nd INFORMAL SUMMIT- MAMALLAPURAM SUMMIT
Prime Minister of India and the President of the People’s Republic of China held their Second Informal Summit in Chennai (Mamallapuram), India.
• The Mamallapuram Summit has begun a “New Era of Cooperation” between India and China.
• First India- China informal summit invoked the ‘Wuhan spirit’, whereas the second informal India-China summit has called for ‘Chennai Connect.
• Informal summits allow discussion on wide-ranging issues, they are not particularly purpose-specific, and are sometimes considered to play bigger roles in diplomatic dialogue than formal exchanges. It also acts as supplementary exchanges to annual summits.
KEY POINTS
• Reiteration of the first Informal Summit in Wuhan (2018)
• Both the countries reiterated the consensus reached during the first informal Summit in Wuhan to consider India and China as factors for stability in the current international landscape.
• It also emphasized upon managing the differences and not to allow differences on any issue to become disputes.
• Economic Development:
• A High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue mechanism to be established to enhance trade and commercial relations.
• The manufacturing partnership is to be established to encourage mutual investments in identified sectors.
• Multilateral trading system
• India-China agreed to support and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system.
• Also promised to work together for open and inclusive trade arrangements to maintain inclusive international order.
• Strategic Issues:
• Boundary issues to be solved on the lines of a mutually-agreed framework based on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles that were agreed by the two sides in 2005.
• The strategic communication to be enhanced to maximize usage of high-level exchanges like dialogue mechanisms.
• Terrorism:
• Both countries recognized the joint efforts to ensure that the international community strengthens the framework against training and financing terrorist groups throughout the world and on a nondiscriminatory basis.
• Sister State Relations:
• Considering the age-old commercial as well as maritime linkages, both the countries agreed to establish Sister-State Relations between Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province.
• An academy to study links between Mahabalipuram and Fujian province on the lines of the experience between Ajanta and Dunhuang to be established.
• 70 years of India-China relations:
• The year 2020 will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of India-China diplomatic relations, to celebrate the event two countries will be organizing 70 activities to emphasize the historical connection between the two civilizations.
• Also, the year 2020 will be designated as the Year of India-China Cultural and People to People Exchanges.
• Being important contemporary civilizations in the world, efforts will be taken in order to foster cultural understanding between the two countries.
Why Mamallapuram is chosen?
• India has chosen Mamallapuram as a symbol of India’s ‘soft power’.
• Mamallapuram is an important town of the erstwhile Pallava dynasty that ruled in parts of South India from 275 CE to 897 CE.
• The name Mamallapuram got distorted during the British era to Mahabalipuram and thus it is also known as Mahabalipuram.
• The city of Mamallapuram was founded by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD.
• The name Mamallapuram derives from Mamallan, or “great warrior”, a title by which the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I was known.
• It is renowned for its architecture, widely admired across the world.
• Mamallapuram and the Pallava dynasty are also historically relevant, for the earliest recorded security pact between China and India (in the early 8th century) that involved a Pallava king (Rajasimhan, or Narasimha Varma II), from whom the Chinese sought help to counter Tibet.
Wuhan Spirit
Wuhan Spirit is in line with the five principles of peaceful coexistence (Panchsheel) jointly advocated by China and India in the 1950s.
Wuhan Spirit highlighted
To form the “backbone” of economic globalization, and they should jointly make positive contributions to global peace and development.
T o cooperate, for the first time ever, on a joint project in Afghanistan.
China has indicated that India’s refusal to join the Belt and Road Initiative will not come in the way of economic cooperation.
Fujian Province
It is located on the south-eastern coast of China, situated opposite the island of Taiwan.
Fujian (meaning “Happy Establishment”) is one of the country’s smaller provinces.