R Krishna Das
China once again provoked India as soldiers clashed over a disputed Himalayan border region Friday. But what could be the cause that led to the fresh fight?
If experts are to be believed, China is confused with the recent Indo-US joint military exercise held in Uttarakhand. Another account says rising nationalistic sentiment in both the countries can have fuelled the latest clash.
Beijing has however put the ball in the Indian court. Long Shaohua, a spokesman from the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Western Theatre Command, claimed that the clash happened during a regular border patrol on Friday when Chinese troops were intercepted by their Indian counterparts, who were “illegally crossing the border”. China’s foreign ministry confirmed both Indian and Chinese troops suffered “minor injuries”.
China claims about 90,000 sq km (35,000 square miles) of Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet and its territory. India has been contesting the claim that has been resulting in border clashes between the two powerful Asian neighbours.
In June 2020, tensions spiked in the Karakoram mountain range in the Galwan region of Ladakh as soldiers fought with stones, fists and clubs. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died. Though China reportedly covered up the actual casualty that was manifold. The countries then stationed tens of thousands of troops backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
After several meetings between military commanders on both sides, some soldiers pulled back from the key friction point in Ladakh, but tensions between the two countries have persisted.
Experts on the China-India affairs believe that the strong leadership in India has been the one of the reasons. The rising nationalistic sentiment both in India and consequently in China has propelled the latter not to bow down before Beijing and give a befitting reply. The development has literally ended the monopolistic stand of China.
If the sentiments continue, the possibility of more brawls and even small-scale skirmishes along the LAC cannot be ruled out.
Another reason for China’s desperation can be attributed to the 18th edition of Indo – US joint training exercise “YUDH ABHYAS 22” conducted in Uttarakhand last month. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and USA with the aim of exchanging best practices, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures between the Armies of the two nations.
US Army soldiers of 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM Regiment will be participating in the exercise. What worries China is the area where the exercise has been conducted in Uttarakhand province, which is hardly 100km from the LAC.
