Chinese Telephony
Sujan Ghosh
Assistant Professor
Dept. Of Political science
Pakuahat Degree College, Malda (WB)
The persistent boundary dispute between India and China (Atul Bhardwaj, EPW July 29,
2017) is a major bilateral irritant between the two countries. China is not willing for an early
solution of this problem and raises the issue again and again. Both countries have launched
19 rounds of boundary negotiations till the end of 2016, but no solution is in sight. China is
the only country in the region, which has boundary dispute with all her neighbouring
countries – especially with India and Bhutan. China continues to play the games of checkers
across the borders with its neighbouring countries. Capitalizing on its sheer physical size,
geographical position and economic weight, China unabashedly extends its geo-political
clout by trespassing on foreign territories, occupying land pockets with scant regard to the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours and countries that happen to cross its
path in the avowed goal of enlarging the ‘zones of Chinese influence and control’ as far as
possible.
China of late has been flexing its muscles to show the world its military might, to brow-beat
audacious neighbouring countries, to prove its ‘new super-power status’ and to claim the
crown of undisputed leader of the entire Asian continent. Its actions in this direction is way
ahead by occupying islands in South China Sea, contesting territorial claims of neighbours in
the East China Sea, and is seeking greater control of the Malacca Straits. It is at odds with
Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, South-Korea, Japan and other neighbours on border issues.
What these nations long consider to be their natural territory is contested by China and their
claims of ‘rightful ownership’ are openly doubted.
China has always locked horns with India on a number of border issues, sought to destabilize
bilateral ties by unwarranted territory claims and continues to wage unabated political agenda
against India. It needs to be understood as to why China is delaying the solution of boundary
dispute with India and why does she want to raise the same time and again? The reality is that
India is developing fast and emerging as a strong contender to Chinese might, clout and
authority which makes the Chinese establishment wriggle in discomfort and they latch on to
every situation, wherever or whenever possible, to push India aside and hurt its national
interests. Asia watcher Guihong Zhang notes, that an emerging India does mean a strong
competitor for China from South, West, Southeast, Central Asia to India and Pacific Oceans
where their interests and influences will clash. Chinese authorities try to find ways and means
to undermine India’s shining democracy by weakening it internally (through support to
Maoist extremists/Naxalites), by encouraging anti-national communist establishment of India,
and seeking to retard its growing international influence by thwarting India’s claims and
rightful assertions in matters of national interest at international organizations. China’s
intransigence and at times brazen attitude towards India, especially in the international
settings, like obstructing India’s permanent membership in United Nations Security Council,
blocking entry of India into the Nuclear Suppliers Group and sabotaging UN resolution of
declaring Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. China
adopted ‘string of pearl’ strategy to encircle India from all sides, claimed its right over a
larger part of Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls ‘South Tawang’ (South Tibet), issued staple
visa to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
China also objected to India’s presence in South China Sea (SCS). Although India is a non-
claimant to the disputed SCS islands it is concerned with the developments in the SCS. Even
though the SCS area may seem far from the Indian main land but in actual terms it is not so
when one consider the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is also important to note that India’s
trade with Japan and South Korea has been growing and hence, it is crucial that freedom of
navigation is maintained in the South China Sea through which the trading routes between
India and these East Asian countries pass. China has been very wary of both India’s growing
naval presence and ongoing works of oil and gas exploration agreements with its arch-rival
Vietnam being conducted in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of that country in SCS.
China always reiterates that the entire sea in its backyard belongs to her, which, however,
runs contrary to the international maritime legal norms under United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which China is also a signatory. So, Chinese Navy has
been occasionally resorted to ‘obstructionist measures’ (like confronting Indian vessels,
trailing them by its submarine resurfacing very close to it, transmitting ‘warning messages’
etc.) that aim at denying Indian Navy’s access to the international water of the SCS, which
again in clear violation of UNCLOS which being a party to it China must respect.
Interestingly, the ONGC Videsh Ltd. has been working in this region since 1988 especially
on block 116 but only very recently China has started opposing India’s oil exploration in the
SCS. Further, Russia’s Gazprom also has been exploring oil and gas in the Vietnamese block
112 and 129-132 in the South China Sea since September 11, 2000 but Beijing never uttered
a single word against Russian exploration. Then, why China is ‘crying foul’ now? All these
instances expose the hollowness of China’s so-called ‘non-negotiable’ ‘historical claims’ in
its ‘core area’ i.e., South China Sea. Communist China can no longer hide its hegemonic and
territorial aggrandizing designs in the SCS.
China launched China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project for the economic
development of both countries and announced a massive infrastructural project called ‘One
Belt One Road’ initiative, also termed as the ‘Silk Road Project’ which is China’s hard drive
towards globalization effort. OBOR has estimated to generate business worth billions of
dollars to the Chinese companies, banks, consultants and Government organizations. In
practical OBOR and CPEC are China’s stratagem to encircle India from North West to North
East and create the perception and force the illusion of China’s control over the entire
territory ranging from parts of Arunachal Pradesh (which it acquired in the ‘Sino-Indian War’
of 1962) to most of Jammu and Kashmir. However, India’s strong rejection of OBOR will
disrupt the $70 billion trade and cast a shadow on China’s pet Belt and Road initiative. This
is another reason for wider conflict between the two nations.
Recent Doklam standoff at the tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China is also a diversionary
tactic which has been undertaken by Beijing at the request of its all-weather friend, Pakistan,
to deflect the heat which Pakistan is facing because of the aggressive response by the Indian
army along the Pakistani border. Therefore, in Doklam China is playing Pakistan’s game and
not its own. At the same time, China cannot be unaware of the implications of India fobbing
off its bellicose intentions. Since China considers itself far superior to India, it simply cannot
afford to be seen being held to a draw by a supposedly weak India. To its neighbours and the
rest of the world, such an outcome will be typical of a bully whose bark is worse than its bite.
China, therefore, is in something of a bind for the first time since it began seriously flexing its
military muscles.
The forthcoming 19th congress of the Chinese Communist Party in November, 2017 has
further complicated the situation, for President Xi Jinping cannot afford to be stared down by
India when he is seeking another term. Even a mutually agreed simultaneous withdrawal of
the troops will be interpreted as a defeat in China. China want, therefore, India to withdraw
first before any negotiations can take place. But New Delhi refused China strongly.
China knows very well that Doklam is not its part. Otherwise, these would have been no
liability for proving anything to India by the dust of Beijing’s past. China relates to China-
British Treaty of 1890 with the rights of Doklam. According to the agreement, Doklam came
to China’s right. India is already opposing this claim.
For India Doklam is a vital strategic point. The road construction by the Chinese would
represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India. If
China can able to occupy ‘chicken neck’ after crossing Bhutan through Doklam, then it will
be easy for China to separate North-East India from the rest of the country. Bhutan has
already rejected China’s claim over Doklam and clarified that the tri-lateral standoff area
belongs to it and construction of road inside Bhutanese territory is a violation of international
treaty. It is also a fact that it is not good for anyone to keep the army deployed forever in
Doklam. China’s problem is even more. Because there is a lot more roads to send the supplies
to Chinese troops deployed in Doklam. In winter which will become more problematic.
India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector more
than eight weeks after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the
area. The flag meeting about detailed discussion on the ongoing Doklam standoff remained
inconclusive as the Chinese side insisted on withdrawal of Indian troops from Doklam
immediately. India presses for withdrawal of troops by both sides to resolve situation. During
this tension period Chinese soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to enter the
Indian side in two areas – Finger Four and Finger Five along the banks of Pangong Lakes in
Ladakh. But on both the occasions their attempts were thwarted by Indian troops. Finger Four
areas in the region has been a bone of contention between India and China as both claim it to
be a part of their territory. Two thirds of the Lake are controlled by China while one third of
it controlled by India. Probably it is the first time that Indian border guards strongly foiled an
attempt by Chinese soldiers to enter Indian territories.
China occasionally refereed to the punishment which it had melted out to India in 1962. But
in practical the Chinese do not want to fight. They knew it can embarrass them, as this surely
isn’t 1962. They also know the moment they attack India, all the powers against China will
be brought together overnight, not something the new super power wants. The Chinese are
playing the game of coercive diplomacy with India. They are using the media they own as an
instrument of provocation. The answer is not to scare them by unleashing our own anger. But
this state directed overlooking of their threat can persuade China to draw conclusions
detrimental to us, and to the prospect of a peaceful, mutually, honourable resolution of
Doklam.
To counter the Chinese plans and provocations, India is not hibernating or taking the Chinese
heap silently. It is working out a measured and appropriate long term response mechanism,
patiently and earnestly, by engaging with more reasonable, friendly and helpful nations like
Japan, South Korea, USA and others to counter the Chinese aggression. Work on mutually
beneficial civil, military and economic projects is afoot and would soon provide steady long-
term results not only to India and its partners but to the adjoining and neighbouring countries
as well.
