The long awaited talks between Modiji and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of BRICS Meet in Johannesburg regarding Laddakh Standoff hasn't brought the desired result. They talked about the ways to ease the standoff leading to disengagement of forces on the border but the outcome doesn't seem to be positive as both the sides are claiming that talks were held at the request of the other. This act of one upmanship shows the discord between the two countries and the chances of amicable settlement on the border seems bleak. Therefore, the border standoff would continue for some more time. However, it must be realised that China is acting as per its old gameplan of wearing out its adversary through several round of talks without budging an inch from its stand. So, India need to act accordingly.
What are the possible responses India can make. First of all, India should stick to its demand that both the forces should return to the LAC as it was during pre Galwan clashes. Secondly, India should guard against negotiation fatigue as long negotiations are a time tested Chinese diplomatic weapon. Thirdly, slightest of concession accomodating Chinese demand should not be made. The Chinese must be made to realise that the days of salami slicing are over and India should instil fear in the Chinese psyche that it could act as an aggressor if the situation arose.
Both India and China being nuclear power, there is no threat of a nuclear war. In the last three years of border standoff and skirmishes in between , losses on the Chinese side are no less. On the contrary, it seems to be more as Chinese army has not dared to take on India directly and wage a full-fledged war. The Chinese forces are a demoralised lot. Now, this is the time that India should take the conflict into Chinese territory. A long standoff without any armed conflict is a wastage of resources. India is not as rich as China. Therefore, it should make as much as possible in the shortest possible time. It should go for an armed conflict and it would thrash China in a small scale Himalayan war. This is the only way out of this long and costly standoff. The proposal to expedite the Core Commander level talks is simply a wearing out tactics.
This opinion may sound hawkish but this is a fact of history that whenever India has taken a bold and aggressive stand, it has paid off.
The need to settle score with China is all the more essential as it is terrorising small neighbours like Bhutan and Nepal and trying to force them to sign unequal treaties. In a bilateral talk with Bhutan, China has not only made claim over Doklam but also on some other Bhutanese territory. Can India remain a silent spectator? Definitely not. The importance of Doklam can not be overstated. Similarly, India can not allow Nepal to sit in the lap of China. A nation has to pay the cost of maintaining its sovereignty and preserving its territorial integrity. A small scale war with China is this cost, which India must pay. A military victory against China would give India peace for a reasonably long time and all its neighbours would fall in line.