The Doklam Dilemma
India Today|February 12, 2018

India’s Intervention in Doklam Sent a Strong Message to China, but Beijing Is Responding With Heavy Military Posturing Across the Line of Actual Control

Sandeep Unnithan and Ananth Krishnan
The Doklam Dilemma

Late alert from Arunachal Pradesh triggered alarm bells within the army’s Eastern Command headquarters at Fort William, Kolkata. Tribal hunters in the state’s remote Upper Siang district, abutting Tibet, had spotted a Chinese construction party at work in the Tuting sector near a village within Indian territory. The alert came just three months after the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had retreated from a 73-day face-off on the remote Doklam plateau in Bhutan. The army moved in fast, but it took a patrol an 11-day foot march to access the rugged spot. A road construction crew was indeed laying the foundation for a road passing through Indian territory. The equipment, including two earth movers, was seized and the crew, all civilians, turned back. The army constructed a six-ft-high, 20-ft-wide wall at the spot, to ensure there would be no further road construction.

The incident was devoid of the rancour seen during the previous Himalayan stand-off, particularly since the army defused the situation by returning the construction equipment and the Chinese agreeing not to build the road. Nearly a month later, on January 26, PLA and Indian Army personnel participated in two ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings at Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in eastern Ladakh. The meetings, the first since the Doklam stand-off, were held in a convivial atmosphere. The possibility of resuming the annual ‘hand-in-hand’ army exercises between India and China, held each year since 2007, has brightened this year. The 2017 instalment was cancelled due to the stand-off.

This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIA TODAYView All
Check On Sale Of Insurance
India Today

Check On Sale Of Insurance

Complaints about insurance mis-selling come up mostly when a claim is rejected or the policyholder doesn't get what he thinks he bought the policy for

time-read
4 mins  |
April 01, 2024
How To Make Better Financial Decisions
India Today

How To Make Better Financial Decisions

Let logic, not emotion, dictate your wealth choices. Understand your emotions first, then temper them with facts, and you will arrive at better financial decisions

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 01, 2024
WHEN DO YOU GET AN INCOME TAX REFUND?
India Today

WHEN DO YOU GET AN INCOME TAX REFUND?

An assessee becomes entitled to an income tax refund when the tax they have paid exceeds what they are liable to pay in a financial year

time-read
2 mins  |
April 01, 2024
STANDING UP AND TRANSFORMING LIVES
India Today

STANDING UP AND TRANSFORMING LIVES

THE LAUNCH EVENT OF THE MAHINDRA RISE INITIATIVE, ORGANISED BY THE INDIA TODAY GROUP AND MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA, HONOURED WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A BETTER INDIA

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
THE SENSE OF ARRIVAL
India Today

THE SENSE OF ARRIVAL

Samantha Ruth Prabhu's journey in the film industry has been about finding success by overcoming fear

time-read
1 min  |
April 01, 2024
IN THE SAFE ZONE
India Today

IN THE SAFE ZONE

AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES ARE INCREASINGLY FOCUSSED ON BETTER AND MORE ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES IN THEIR CARS. HEIGHTENED CUSTOMER AWARENESS HAS GIVEN THIS AN ADDED IMPETUS

time-read
4 mins  |
April 01, 2024
TWIN STRIKE
India Today

TWIN STRIKE

WE GET A LEG OVER APRILIA'S MADE-IN-INDIA RS 457 AT THE GRUELLING KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY

time-read
2 mins  |
April 01, 2024
INDIAN SAFETY RATINGS FOR CARS
India Today

INDIAN SAFETY RATINGS FOR CARS

THE BHARAT NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM RATES THEM FOR BOTH ADULT AND CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION

time-read
2 mins  |
April 01, 2024
THE MEDIUM, NOT THE MESSAGE
India Today

THE MEDIUM, NOT THE MESSAGE

We live in an age where there is an economy built on distraction and a complete corruption of attention.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
HAIL TO THE KING - THE HYUNDAI CRETA GETS MAJOR UPDATES, LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE AS SEGMENT LEADER
India Today

HAIL TO THE KING - THE HYUNDAI CRETA GETS MAJOR UPDATES, LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE AS SEGMENT LEADER

Just under four years after the arrival of the second generation Creta, Hyundai has given its bestseller a major overhaul with a significant redesign of the exterior and interior, more features, enhanced safety and a new turbo petrol powertrain.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 01, 2024