The standoff near Bhutan continues, but several new things happened that are worth discussing. On 3 August, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a 15-page statement with maps, photographs and documents. It said the “illegal action” by “trespassing” Indian soldiers “not only violated China’s territorial sovereignty, but also challenged Bhutan’s sovereignty and independence”.
The Chinese later stated that India reduced its military presence to just over 40 soldiers by 31 July, down from 400 earlier in the 45-day standoff.
On the 3rd, India denied that it withdrew any of its troops and claimed the Chinese contingent likewise was stable, at about 400 soldiers.
India’s official response to the Chinese document was, “India considers that peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas are important prerequisites for smooth development of our bilateral relations with China.”
The timing of the Chinese document contributed to the perception that the crisis had eased. On 27 July, India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval discussed the standoff with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, in Beijing.
This created a cause-and-effect appearance which was a deliberately managed perception that India concurred in the Chinese document. In fact, Indian news services reported the talks achieved no breakthrough.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Yang held a bilateral meeting with Doval “at his request and in accordance with the practice.” It said China conveyed its firm stand to India that it must take “concrete actions” by immediately pulling back troops from the Doklam plateau with “no strings attached” to resolve the standoff.
One of the parties is dissembling, but the standoff seems stable. No soldiers from either country has fired a shot at the others for 45 days. The Chinese might be trying to use propaganda to ease the tension without making any changes on the ground.
It is almost absurd that the relations between these two Asian giants could be frozen by a road improvement project. The Chinese will not back down, but they seem prepared to move on, if a formula or appropriate ruse may be found.
On China’s sovereignty. Concerning the issue of sovereignty, on 30 July at the military parade honoring the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, President Xi Jinping spoke strong language.
“The Chinese people treasure peace and we absolutely do not engage in invasion and expansion. However, we have the confidence to conquer all forms of invasion,” Xi said. “We absolutely will not permit any person, any organization, any political party — at any time, in any form — to separate any piece of Chinese territory from China…No one should expect us to swallow the bitter fruit of damage to our sovereignty, security and development interests.”
These remarks are the most authoritative, succinct and emphatic statement of Chinese law and policy about alienation of Chinese territory. This language applies to the Indian standoff area as well as to the South and East China Seas. It is directed at India as well as to the US.
Powerful interests in China’s leadership favor using force to defend Chinese sovereignty. President Xi might be one of them. In any case, he cannot afford to appear weak on issues of sovereignty. The message is that once China declares that it is sovereign over a territory, China will be prepared to use force to defend it.
On 2 August, China officially opened its new logistics base at Djibouti. This is China’s first and only base outside Chinese territory.
As for never engaging in invasion, the Vietnamese who survived the Chinese invasion of northern Vietnam in 1979 might disagree with Xi, as might the Indians who remember the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The Chinese apparently differentiate between an invasion and teaching a lesson to a neighbor. And then there’s the invasion of Tibet (still occupied).
LL,
Might this be also a warning to the Real Chinese on Taiwan that the ChiCom are coming?
Sounds like Xi is taking notes on your favor people in the world, the Fourth Estate in the US, with their spin-meister imagination.
The Chinese do take their time. Taiwan is in the crosshairs, but I don't see the Red Hoard crossing the Straights to storm the island anytime soon. However, if we armed them with Nukes as you suggested previously, they'd be very vexed indeed.
How India and China Have Come to the Brink Over a Remote Mountain Pass
nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/dolam-plateau-china-india-bhutan.html
They've been on the brink over the same mountain pass since '62. I can't say about today, but over the intervening years both China and India armed their people in the conflict zone with clubs to keep things from getting out of hand with firearms. Pre-clubs, there were clashes with people killed every year.
The Chinese look to the long view, and don't appear to be afraid to expend those they consider expendable. We on the other hand seem mesmerized by the short go…
It's always like that. We're able to look two years ahead to the next election cycle.
It's remarkable that we've survived as a nation and have the largest GDP in the world. We do because business, not government manages things.
Talking of Chinese and Indians, which do you think is the most tasty?
Is it a Golden Dragon that fires your senses or a Bengal spice?
Rumour has it that Vindaloo was once the top British dish but I believe those sneaky little egg rolls may have taken over. You can’t beat foo king chips but then truth be told, I’d rather have mine with mushy peas.
From your post (above) it seems that you're feeling a bit better. I avoid (red dot) Indian food. I like (feather) Indian fry bread, etc. I like most Chinese food but watching a Chinese person eat a fish, tearing it up with chopsticks and slurping it down ruins my appetite. Just a culture thing. Curry isn't something I'd eat unless I was very hungry and there wasn't ANYTHING else to eat.
Foo king chips need to be accompanied by HP sauce and a foo king cod, cooked properly, salted and wrapped in newsprint for flavor. You can hold the mushy peas if you'd like, but if you held them you'd be more likely to throw them (at me) than just to drop them in the nearest bin. It's how you roll. I know.
Yep, that same pass for now almost 60 years… AND control of Nepal. Remember, the Chinese moved in on them now probably 20 years ago… Re Djibouti, I wonder if they rebuilt the old Soviet piers? If so, a missed approach yields some 'nice' photography… 🙂
China took over from Russia, playing The Great Game.
India is far stronger today than 20 years ago. The Indians gave a good account in WWII against the Japanese, perhaps with some British guidance. The Chinese consistently got stomped by the Japanese.
China's little tiff with Vietnam wasn't too successful either.
What is the military axiom? Quantity has a quality all it's own. Seems like India and China have no advantage there.
They're like two recess/schoolyard bullies who want to shove without pulling out the pocket knives.
I don't feel better yet but teasing my favourite person sparks me up 😉
I would not throw them at you unless you refused to eat them then I'd have to teach you a lesson. I'm here to educate you on the finer things in life, Larry lambert, and you should appreciate this however difficult you find it.
Those nasty peas are not nearly as good as guacamole. If they were you'd have corn chips for them rather than foo-king chips.
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