Is The “New LAC Normal” Here To Stay?

Presenting a “Reality Check”, GEN RAJ MEHTA argues that while India’s conventional war-fighting approach suffices for Pakistan (in the event of Chinese collusion in SSN), the Chinese fight very differently. Thus, Indian forces will have to balance conventional wisdom for Pakistan with Chinese unorthodoxy and recourse to deception and deceit and trump both approaches

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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.