Deft move in tough game
Depsang-Demchok patrolling agreement showed India compelled China to exhibit a flexibility the latter doesn’t display in its dealings elsewhere. But this isn’t enough ‘normalisation’ for diluting restrictions
China rarely backs off from a forward, aggressive military position. Its manoeuvres in South China Sea are proof of how blatant Beijing can get in establishing military control over disputed territorial claims. So, for it to now gradually accommodate India in eastern Ladakh shows that holding firm, creating bargaining chips, and negotiating hard can work as a push-back strategy.
In the just worked out agreement, the issue was to regain patrolling access to an area of about 650 sq km in the Depsang plains and to two patrolling points in Demchok besides allowing for grazing in the area. China argued that these issues pre-date the 2020 build-up and clash, hence should be treated as legacy issues, which can’t be part of the disengagement conversation.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
END OF ARTICLE
