There, again, have been misgivings about the Chinese intentions in Doklam, or Doka La, the Bhutanese territory close to Sikkim. The about 75-day crisis in June last year saw the Chinese and Indian troops
engaging face-to-face in a war-like scenario. Chinese PLA’s evil designs to put India more on the defensive in the sensitive region by its military actions in a disputed area were ably challenged by the Indian army. The Chinese have not moved forward there, but they have not retreated either. News now, from America, is that the
Chinese side has resumed their activities in the disputed area. This calls for serious concern.
Seen alongside is a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in South Africa this past week. The two leaders have reiterated their resolve to “ensure peace and tranquillity along the border, in what turned out to be their third bilateral meeting in as many months. Notably, Xi is now more powerful than ever, after having been anointed President for Life by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Responsibility for regional peace now rests on his shoulders. He’s no more in a position to respond to pressures from the Chinese military brass, as was suspected to be the case till a while ago.
India is China’s major trading partner. Peace with India should be a matter of first priority to China also for the reason that China cannot afford to have a military engagement at this time of its high economic growth. It emerged from the shadows to the present status of a super power in Asia and beyond by keeping its territorial usurpation ambitions firmly under control and by concentrating fully on economic growth. But, with economic strength came its new era of aggressiveness in the South China Sea (SCS) on the one hand, and along India’s northern border region on the other. Its aggressive stance in SCS is facing stiff resistance from the US; India has so far stood its ground –more or less, but it’s time for increased vigil.
Xi’s promises on peace cannot be taken for granted; more so, as China had acted in a treacherous manner by engaging India in a war in 1962 – a disastrous experience for this country in the Nehru era. Huge tracts
of Indian land along the Himalayas and beyond are still in Chinese possession. One can only hope against hope that Xi would act in a responsible manner to maintain regional peace and stability.