Four-and-a-half years after China’s aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and the military stand-off that followed, the first concrete step towards breaking the stalemate is welcome. India and China are said to have agreed to restore each other’s patrolling rights in Depsang Plains and Demchok in Ladakh, hopefully paving the way for restoring the pre-2020 status quo ante.
Agreements have also been reported in other sectors along the LAC, including in Arunachal Pradesh. The current disengagement is, of course, just the beginning: It has to be followed by de-escalation and de-induction, which will be a slow, meticulous process requiring constant monitoring. However, the caveats notwithstanding, the forward movement with Beijing is significant for Delhi — both in terms of bilateral ties as well as India’s broader geopolitical options.
India’s diplomatic and security establishment has shown both fortitude and patience over the last few years, and this must continue to be part of its template in dealing with China. In a broader sense, it also opens up diplomatic space for Delhi as it seeks to find a balance between Russia and the West. And with the US presidential elections less than a fortnight away, it also gives Delhi more cards to play with as it deals with the next White House occupant.
A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia could provide the political imprimatur to the disengagement. The two leaders may also outline the contours of further political and economic engagement. Delhi and Beijing were unable to move forward because of the border issue.
Broadly, while China wanted to place the border issue and its alleged incursions on the back burner and focus on trade and the economy, India insisted that there could be no forward movement in the face of territorial aggression. This fundamental principle must be kept in mind in the days ahead.
The fact is that the relationship with China, given the militarised nature of an aspect of the border dispute, has become mired in politics, hyperbole and maximalism. It needs, instead, a healthy dose of realism. Two neighbouring states, with large economies and military strength and different political systems, are bound to disagree — neither can wish the other away. It is important that the relationship isn’t politicised, and that political space is left open for engagement.
At the same time, it is important not to confuse the disengagement at the LAC for a “resolution”. India has stood its ground and must continue to do so. It is also important for Delhi to make it clear to Beijing that as a vibrant democracy, it needs to take the people along, especially the Opposition, Parliament and India’s external partners. If India shows the same fortitude and patience it has thus far, it stands a good chance of pushing its point home, without rancour, and build a better relationship with its neighbour.
