A year after the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese armies in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, India is better prepared to deal with any eventualities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the trust deficit between the two sides persists. On June 15 last year, Ladakh’s Galwan Valley witnessed a violent clash between the Armies of India and China. The clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, was one of the worst in 45 years, and led to a military standoff with China and at least 11 rounds of military talks for the disengagement process.
Following the Galwan Valley skirmish, some Indian campaigns about boycotting Chinese products were started. Action on the economic front included cancellation and additional scrutiny of certain contracts with Chinese firms, and calls were also made to stop the entry of Chinese companies into strategic markets in India. By November 2020, the Indian government had banned over 200 Chinese apps including apps owned by Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Sina and Bytedance.
What happened on June 15, 2020?
On June 15, a major clash erupted between India and PLA troops near patrolling point 14 in the Galwan Valley. The Chinese tried to erect a surveillance post that Indian soldiers protested, leading to a physical scuffle. The Chinese side used unconventional weapons like iron rods and clubs embedded with nails to attack Indian soldiers. The clash lasted for nearly six hours, and took place in near total darkness. Soldiers of the 16th Bihar Regiment fought valiantly in hand-to-hand combat. The regiment lost 20 of its soldiers, but did not cede ground. The dead included the commanding officer Colonel Santosh Babu. PLA also suffered heavy casualties – at least 35 by some estimates – but has officially confirmed the loss of only four troops.
Root cause of tension?
The disputed boundary between India and China, also known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), is divided into three sectors: western, middle and eastern. The countries disagree on the exact location of the LAC in various areas, so much so that India claims that the LAC is 3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it to be around 2,000 km long. The two armies try and dominate by patrol to the areas up to their respective perceptions of the LAC, often bringing them into conflict.
Pangong lake Dispute
The issue with the Pangong lake is that the disputed border goes right through the middle of the lake, with both nations disputing how much of the lake the other gets. Due to the dispute of Line of Actual Control the unilateral mobilization of China in the lake had to be countered. Thus India began patrolling until Finger 4 in Northern Bank of the Lake. It was during this activity that Chinese troops started countering and ramming Indian boats in spite of them being in their own territory. It was also reported at many incidences that Chinese troops began patrolling till Finger 2 in the lake and rammed Indian boats too. India’s claim is till the hill spur that is Finger 8 in actuality. The line of actual control as per India’s claim is there. China, however, denies this and claims the land till Finger 2. Thus as soon as Indian troops cross beyond Finger 4 they are met with Chinese counterparts.
By the end of August 2020, India occupied key mountain tops at the Kailash Range overlooking the southern bank of the lake.
Present Situation
There has been no major border incident since Galwan, but a tense calm prevails. China has shown little flexibility in furthering the disengagement in Ladakh. The points of friction along the LAC- from Arunachal to Ladakh- still remains to be ironed out.
The Indian Army has focused on being better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year, as a final resolution seems far off.
India has enhanced military infrastructure, increased troop deployment to 50,000 to 60,000 troops, and constructed better roads to improve connectivity for quick force mobilisation.
The force continues to be on high alert with its enhanced troop deployment of over 50,000 men on the ground in Ladakh for the last one year, including during the harsh winter when the temperature dips to minus 40-degree Celsius.