Increased Chinese Transgression

• 23 May 2020

Why in News

Recently, there has been a marked increase in the number of Chinese transgressions across the disputed India-China border in Ladakh.

• In Ladakh, a surge of 75% have been observed in 2019 compared to 2018 and the first four months of 2020 have also witnessed an increase compared to 2019.

Key Points

• Chinese Transgression:
  
  • The border between India and China is not fully demarcated and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is neither clarified nor confirmed by the two countries.
  • This leads to different perceptions of the LAC for the two sides while soldiers from either side try to patrol the area.
  • Observation Methods: Use of surveillance equipment, face-offs by patrols, reliable indications by locals, or evidence left by the Chinese in the form of wrappers, biscuit packets etc. in an unmanned area.
  • Official data shows that 80% of Chinese transgressions across the LAC since 2015 have taken place in four locations of which three are in eastern Ladakh in the western sector.
    
    • These areas of eastern Ladakh are Pangong Tso, Trig Heights and Burtse.
    • The fourth area is the Dichu Area/Madan Ridge area (Arunachal Pradesh) of the Eastern sector.
  • Implications of Increased Number of Transgressions:
    
    • It is an indicator of increased Chinese assertiveness.
    • Even if there are no major incidents, it should not be taken lightly.
    • So far, there has been no major standoff between the two sides after the 73-day Doklam standoff on Sikkim-Bhutan border in 2017.

Different Sectors of India-China Border

• India and China share a boundary that stretches 3,488 km from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
• The border dispute still stands unresolved.
• It is divided into three sectors:
  
  • Western Sector: It falls in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh and is 1597 km long.
    
    • It witnesses the highest transgressions between the two sides.
  • Middle Sector: It falls in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and is 545 km long.
    
    • It is the least disputed sector between the two countries.
  • Eastern Sector: It falls in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and is 1346 km long.

Concerns

• India is worried about the tensions at Naku La in Sikkim and at Galwan river and Pangong Tso in Ladakh.
• The increased transgressions lead to more tensions between both countries which are already struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Nepal’s recent behaviour on the Mansarovar Link Road raising the border map issue also raises Indian concerns.
• The constant accusations on each other also cause tensions and disrupt the peace on borders.
  
  • Recently, Chinese media accused India of building defence facilities in the Galwan Valley region of the contested Aksai Chin area.
• India and China are both nuclear-armed countries with strong militaries and the constant border conflicts are not a desirable thing.

Way Forward

• In the Wuhan and Mahabalipuram summits, both China and India had reaffirmed that they will make efforts to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas.
• On 1^st April, 2020 India and China completed their 70 years of diplomatic relations.
• Both countries have resolved border issues peacefully in the past four decades which gives the hope that the tensions will subside soon.
• Establishment of peace between the two big powers of such an important geopolitical region is essential for their own growth and development as well as for maintenance of global peace.

Source: IE