India and China have been in a week long standoff over a thin strip of land bordering both countries and Bhutan, in the Himalayas. Though not a part of the Indian Territory, the area is close to the strategic corridor that serves as a vital artery between Delhi and its far northeastern states. The battle of nerves between India and China will continue as neither side is willing to blink.
The Doklam dispute began on June 16 when China accused Indian border guards in the northeastern state of Sikkim of crossing into its territory in southwestern Tibet, in an attempt to obstruct the construction of a new mountain road.
Last week, China conducted live fire drills on the Qinghai – Tibet Plateau that lies close to the site of the current standoff. Wu vowed to continue this until India withdraws from the region. The current Doklam dispute has rattled many observers, harkening back to the 1962 bloody border war between India and China, the causes of which were never solved. This led to multiple territorial flare ups in the years since. Whether the history will repeat itself or not is difficult to predict but what is new this time is that the Chinese have now made their intention clear of establishing a permanent presence in the area.
The PLA did not think that India would go into the Bhutanese territory to stop them. Both the countries have dug in their heels. China now is making noise about Bhutanese sovereignty and is questioning India’s stand on behalf of another country. China is possibly irritated that Bhutan is the only country in the neighborhood which has stood with India.
External Minister Sushma Swaraj spelled out that if China unilaterally changes the status quo at the tri junction point then that is a direct challenge to our society. They are demanding that we should withdraw our troops however if we want to have talks then both should withdraw their armies.
This is still a smaller crisis relative to the earlier crisis, but in terms of length, there is every possibility that this situation will effectively stretch into the winter.
Who will blink first remains to be seen?
