New Delhi (Defence Correspondent): In a move significant to India’s border concerns, New Delhi has taken note of the latest move of China creating two new counties, including one encompassing a large piece of land in India’s territory illegally occupied by China, referred to as Aksai Chin.
Even though India is yet to officially react to this development experts say that such a decision by China may have adverse repercussions to recent attempts made by India and China to resolve their ongoing border dispute.
This now is also being seen in contrast with the two nations recently restarting boundary negotiations that have remains stalled for over half a decade. The news of setting up of the new counties got established when recently the Xinhua state-run news agency of China had reported on country’s announcement of setting up two new counties in in the region – He’an County and Hekang County.
But how does it affect India and its ongoing talks with China?
To start with, any of China’s counties in the region of Aksai Chin are relevant to the border dispute between India and China over Ladakh. The issue pertains to any of the Chinese counties be it the Hotan County in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, the Rutog County in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, or the He’an County, one of the two new counties being created.
But when we talk of dispute between India and China, they are not limited to Aksai Chin even though it is a region that has been the subject of a dispute between India and China since 1959.
There are other aspects of the border dispute between India and China that include the Pangong Tso lake, that spans eastern Ladakh and West Tibet. About 50% of the lake is in Tibet, 40% is in Ladakh, and the remaining 10% is disputed.
Additionally, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) also remains a significant factor that India and China had both agreed to patrolling arrangements along the Depsang and Demchok areas.
Along with establishing buffer zones in areas where there were standoffs in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China have also fortified their positions. In fact, in August 2023, China was reported to be constructing underground bunkers, tunnel areas, and a primary road in Aksai Chin that had left India highly concerned regarding its border security and integrity.
Experts in the field of border diplomacy believe that a peaceful resolution between India and China is crucial for regional stability and economic cooperation.
They are of the opinion that this can be achieved through regular and structured dialogues and confidence-building measures that may further reduce misunderstandings.
Along with these both nations not only need to work towards demarcating and mutually agreeing upon the exact alignment of the LAC which would minimize ambiguity and the risk of accidental conflicts, but at the same time leveraging platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to foster mutual trust through joint projects.
Other than these, there is also a possibility that continued disengagement of forces from friction points, coupled with agreements to avoid provocative actions could prove to be vital in achieving a comprehensive resolution.
These measures, as put together by global experts on bilateral relations, certainly may take time, but are probably the only way out that can certainly pave the way for a stable and cooperative relationship between India and China given the current situation.
