SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND: Sometime on Monday (Jun 15), an Indian army patrol skirmished with Chinese troops in the Galwan River Valley, high in the Himalayas.
According to reports, no guns were involved, but the fight left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead from injuries caused by stones, makeshift clubs, and falls down the steep cliffs of the valley.
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Although standoffs and even fistfights between Chinese and Indian troops have been relatively common in recent years, there have been no deaths on the disputed border for decades.
Such confrontations are usually defused by talks between commanders on the ground, leading to choreographed disengagements.
READ: India says 20 soldiers killed in deadliest clash with China in decades
In this case, it appears those processes have failed, and at a moment when relations between China and India – both nuclear armed states – are already tense.
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ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE
When India gained its independence in 1947, it inherited unsettled frontiers with several neighbours.
That situation was exacerbated by Chinese leader Mao Zedongs decision to seize control of Tibet – which up to that point had been a buffer state – three years later.
More than a decade of failed negotiations to agree on a border followed, to the frustration of all. Then, in October 1962, in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Mao ordered a sudden attack on Indian forces.
China decisively won this short war designed to teach New Delhi a lesson. It gained ground from India, but then withdrew its forces, bringing them back close to their starting positions.
Tensions have been rising on the border between India and China in recent weeks AFP/Chandan Khanna
Since then, a “Line of Actual Control” (LAC) has, in effect, constituted the frontier.
Several more fruitless rounds of talks to settle an official border have taken place. And there have been several military standoffs, including one in 1975 that left four Indian soldiers dead.
MOUNTING TENSIONS AND THREAT OF WAR
The Galwan River Valley incident is by far the worst to occur on the LAC for some time. It also comes against a backdrop of several years of deteriorating relations between China and India, dating from the rise to power of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Since 2013, New Delhi has reported a series of incursions by Chinese troops into what it regards at its territory.
The visits of both Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in May 2013, and Xi in September 2014, were overshadowed by such incidents.
READ: India impatient for Modi's response to China after 20 soldiers die in border clash
And in mid-2017, there was a ten-week standoff between Chinese and Indian troops in Bhutan, in a disputed area called Doklam (or Donglang).
During that crisis, Beijing openly warned that if New Delhi did not pull back, it might go to war.
DISAGREEMENT OVER OTHER ISSUES
At the same time, China and India have quarreled and competed over a number of other issues.
New Delhi has emerged as a vocal critic of Xis Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and has tried to dissuade other states in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region from signing on to BRI projects.
The two leaders are meeting for the second time in a year in a bid to ease tensions over border disputes, the troubled Kashmir region and China's domination of trade between their huge economies AFP/Handout
India has complained about Chinas trade practices, pointing to a growing trade deficit with its northern neighbour, as well as Beijings alleged attempts to influence the policies of smaller states such as Nepal.
Meanwhile, India has strengthened security ties with the United States, Japan and Australia among others – to Beijings obvious irritation.
THE BIGGEST TEST YET
There can be little doubt that what just happened in the Galwan River Valley constitutes the biggest test yet faced by Narendra Modis government.
Indias prime minister has long been portrayed as a “strongman”. This image has been burnished by retaliatory strikes against Pakistani targets for cross border terrorism in 2016 and 2019, as well as by his governments apparent resilience during the Doklam crisis.
Indian public opinion is already angry with China over COVID-19 and in the wake of the deaths on the LAC, some media outlets, as well as opposition pRead More – Source
SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND: Sometime on Monday (Jun 15), an Indian army patrol skirmished with Chinese troops in the Galwan River Valley, high in the Himalayas.
According to reports, no guns were involved, but the fight left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead from injuries caused by stones, makeshift clubs, and falls down the steep cliffs of the valley.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Although standoffs and even fistfights between Chinese and Indian troops have been relatively common in recent years, there have been no deaths on the disputed border for decades.
Such confrontations are usually defused by talks between commanders on the ground, leading to choreographed disengagements.
READ: India says 20 soldiers killed in deadliest clash with China in decades
In this case, it appears those processes have failed, and at a moment when relations between China and India – both nuclear armed states – are already tense.
Advertisement
Advertisement
ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE
When India gained its independence in 1947, it inherited unsettled frontiers with several neighbours.
That situation was exacerbated by Chinese leader Mao Zedongs decision to seize control of Tibet – which up to that point had been a buffer state – three years later.
More than a decade of failed negotiations to agree on a border followed, to the frustration of all. Then, in October 1962, in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Mao ordered a sudden attack on Indian forces.
China decisively won this short war designed to teach New Delhi a lesson. It gained ground from India, but then withdrew its forces, bringing them back close to their starting positions.
Tensions have been rising on the border between India and China in recent weeks AFP/Chandan Khanna
Since then, a “Line of Actual Control” (LAC) has, in effect, constituted the frontier.
Several more fruitless rounds of talks to settle an official border have taken place. And there have been several military standoffs, including one in 1975 that left four Indian soldiers dead.
MOUNTING TENSIONS AND THREAT OF WAR
The Galwan River Valley incident is by far the worst to occur on the LAC for some time. It also comes against a backdrop of several years of deteriorating relations between China and India, dating from the rise to power of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Since 2013, New Delhi has reported a series of incursions by Chinese troops into what it regards at its territory.
The visits of both Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in May 2013, and Xi in September 2014, were overshadowed by such incidents.
READ: India impatient for Modi's response to China after 20 soldiers die in border clash
And in mid-2017, there was a ten-week standoff between Chinese and Indian troops in Bhutan, in a disputed area called Doklam (or Donglang).
During that crisis, Beijing openly warned that if New Delhi did not pull back, it might go to war.
DISAGREEMENT OVER OTHER ISSUES
At the same time, China and India have quarreled and competed over a number of other issues.
New Delhi has emerged as a vocal critic of Xis Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and has tried to dissuade other states in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region from signing on to BRI projects.
The two leaders are meeting for the second time in a year in a bid to ease tensions over border disputes, the troubled Kashmir region and China's domination of trade between their huge economies AFP/Handout
India has complained about Chinas trade practices, pointing to a growing trade deficit with its northern neighbour, as well as Beijings alleged attempts to influence the policies of smaller states such as Nepal.
Meanwhile, India has strengthened security ties with the United States, Japan and Australia among others – to Beijings obvious irritation.
THE BIGGEST TEST YET
There can be little doubt that what just happened in the Galwan River Valley constitutes the biggest test yet faced by Narendra Modis government.
Indias prime minister has long been portrayed as a “strongman”. This image has been burnished by retaliatory strikes against Pakistani targets for cross border terrorism in 2016 and 2019, as well as by his governments apparent resilience during the Doklam crisis.
Indian public opinion is already angry with China over COVID-19 and in the wake of the deaths on the LAC, some media outlets, as well as opposition pRead More – Source
