The ongoing Sino-Indian standoff since May 5, 2020 has resulted in serial standoffs/ unarmed Neanderthal clashes from Naku La in the Muguthang Sub Sector of North Sikkim to the Depsang Bulge, south of the Karakoram Pass in the very sensitive DBO portion of Sub Sector North (SSN). It is in proximity of the strategic Leh- Darbuk-Shyok-Galwan-Murgo-DBO Road nearing completion by BRO after overcoming substantial terrain-related and alignment hurdles. That this road is a major reason for China to have upped the ante against India, even as it was coping with the rapid spread of the Chinese-started COVID-19 pandemic is a no-brainer. The Chinese Global Times editorial comment and diplomatic Corps says as much. One also cannot ignore the Chinese penchant for “teaching lessons” to countries that defy/challenge its proprietary arrogance in calling China the “Middle Kingdom” or Zhongguo. So seriously do they take this fixation that they have made a 89x41m Map Mural (See Graphic-1) between “Fingers” 4 and 5 descending into the Pangong Lake in India’s Chushul Sector. They have depicted the ancient name of China in Mandarin and, alongside, the map of China to let satellites pick up their claim of possession and intimidate those who need of learning lessons. Let’s just say India isn’t amused and has strongly retaliated.
China has better perspective planning/ infrastructure and operational balance
Unlike India which does not invest too much in deep strategic planning China thinks and acts deep. See Graphic-2 for one depiction of deep planning by the PLA with respect to its LAC operations.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.
CRITICAL NEED TO BOOST CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FLEET
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why India cannot afford to view the critical deficiency in Submarine force levels lightly
BEEFING UP OUR SUBMARINE FLEET
In the last week of March, the Indian Navy displayed its submarine prowess. Eight of its submarines operated together in the Western Indian Ocean Region, a first in three decades, and one of its Scorpene submarines sailed to the Andaman Nicobar Islands, overlooking the Malacca Strait, a critical choke point for China. But how is the comparison with China? RITU SHARMA reports
ENHANCING CRUISE MISSILE CAPABILITY
India’s cruise missile capability has largely evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. But much more needs to be done, writes AMARTYA SINHA
BOOSTING DEFENCE EXPORTS
Earlier, India was known to be an arms importer. But today, the country has come out of its comfort zone and found a place in the list of top-25 arms exporter nations argues AMARTYA SINHA
ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES
Project NETRA represents a proactive initiative by ISRO to safeguard India's interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards, says GIRISH LINGANNA
THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA
India, given its special relationship with Bhutan, has been very wary about the possibility of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a boundary agreement between Bhutan and China, writes SIMRAN SODHI
TROOST, DESAI AND SANCTIONS
The Western sanctions against companies and individuals doing business with Russia have produced a complex set of reactions with lobbyists and shell companies working overtime to beat the rap. A GEOPOLITICS Bureau report
THE KOREA-GATE
India attaches great importance to “three principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity’” for creating the basis for working more closely with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), better known as South Korea for “a free, peaceful and prosperous region”. Prakash Nanda dissects the relationship and the way ahead
Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously
ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.