Indian and Chinese troops are once again in an eyeball to eyeball conflict in the Sikkim section on the Line of Actual Control. It led to a suspension of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the new Nathu La route. Chinese troops intruded into Indian territory and destroyed two Indian army bunkers near the Lultan Post. A flag meeting was held on June 20 but there was no rapprochement between the two sides. The Chinese side rudely indicated that they would not relax their restriction on a great many Indian pilgrims carrying out the annual pilgrimage by the Nathu La Route which they had been doing since 2015. The Chinese claim that it was a reprisal against Indian troops unnecessarily making an incursion into Chinese territory. It is true that the Nathu La route was opened by the Chinese in 2015 which greatly facilitated the journey of pilgrims to the holy destination at Mansarovar every year. The new Yatra route was apparently opened by Beijing to show a mark of respect to Hindu religious sentiments and deepen ties with the new BJP government under Narendra Modi. It is not surprising that Beijing has now taken an about turn on the issue. Their ways are always unpredictable.
Admittedly the Chinese leadership often shows an aggressively big brotherly attitude to the Indian government. For instance, the state controlled Chinese media has attacked Delhi against India’s dedicated air freight corridor with Afghanistan. It is oblivious of the fact that Pakistan intrudes on India’s land access. It is time that India put sufficient pressure on China to end border disputes with India which should be in Beijing’s interest. India’s diplomatic stance has now been strengthened as US President Donald Trump has unequivocally taken India’s side in its contretemps with China.
