The Indo Chinese standoff in Ladakh and India opting out of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), are the two issues which are in discussion everywhere. An influential section of academia is of the opinion that the present standoff in Ladakh is just an accident and both India and China should come to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution. Let us examine why this so-called accident took place. China has been following the creeping forward policy since her victory in 1962 war and has captured a large Indian territory unlawfully. The Dolklam standoff in 2017 was the result of this creeping forward policy which India thwarted. The present crisis started because of Chinese old policy of creeping forward and slicing as much territory as could be possible but India reacted firmly and hence this standoff. Is it advisable then to treat this incident as a mere accident and move forward to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution? Definitely no. India has to draw a line somewhere that this far and no further. A large Indian territory is under Chinese occupation and the LAC is a dictated boundary line. Should India forget it and move ahead? No. The LAC is a dictated and disputed line of control which is a faultline of modern Indian history and which has to be corrected by all means. China is a habitual aggressor and has made incursions into the territories of all her neighbours as she suffers from the Middle Kingdom Syndrome and regards them as old tributaries. India has never been a tributary of China. On the contrary, China has been under the influence of the intellectual domain of India.
The Core Commander level talks are going on without breaking much ice on the recent border disputes in Laddakh and it is being used by China merely as a ploy to buy time and make India careless. The ongoing huge build up by China on the border is a clear cut attempt to terrorise India and put on her economic burden which is required for countering this. The Indian government’s decision to take on China is not only correct but it also exudes confidence that is required in such matters. Squeezing Indian economy and forcing her to surrender without firing a single bullet seems to be the Chinese game plan. In response, India is ready for a full fledged war. China cannot afford a fullfledged war because it is bound to dent Chinese reputation. India is neither Vietnam nor Australia. This is the reason the official Chinese responses to the Indian retaliatory action have been diplomatic and not abusive as it has been with Australia which dared to demand an independent investigation into the origin of corona virus. This speaks volumes of India’s power.
The present Indian posture has alarmed China and she is afraid that a resurgent India would do her best to redraw the borderline dumping LAC in the dustbin of history. It is known to all that India has never accepted LAC and it would try her best to regain her lost territory. Not that, India is going to do it right now, but she has made her intentions clear by capturing strategically important heights on the intervening night of twenty-nine and thirty August. It is only India which can take on China right now.
The belligerent behaviour of China has made every nation her enemy. Her allies like Pakistan are a liability rather than a source of strength. China like former Germany under Hitler is hell bent upon trampling each and everyone that comes in its way. It is not possible in modern times of nuclear weapons and as per the existing balance of power. America and her western allies are not going to take it the way China wants.
America and India opted out of RCEP. America opted out because it wants to return to the America First policy declared by Trump. There might be some cosmetic change in American policy under Joe Biden but largely it would remain the same. There was no point for India being there as she has a huge trade deficit as well as trust deficit with China. India already has trade agreements with ASEAN nations and opting out of RCEP wouldn’t affect her trade, rather it will give Indian manufacturers breathing time to come on its own and compete with Chinese goods in future. RCEP is economically not so important as the taxes on trade within the ASEAN nations are already low and the chances of it going down further is very remote. It is, no doubt, politically important and China has emerged as a leader of a big economic block. India could not afford to bolster Chinese image by joining this economic group when the dragon is sitting in her backyard and they are on the worst of terms. Joining this group would have given legitimacy to Chinese misadventure. We have no option but to take on China. The whole world is watching us with their fingers crossed.
The writer is Registrar, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag and a passionate writer. The views expressed in the article are his own.