Formality !

 

THE expression of willingness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to work with the Indian Army for a fair solution to the boundary issue is in tune with China’s foreign policy handling -- and makes only a marginal sense on the ground. For, when China has established a habit and practice of only going through motions without any desire to deliver, then all such offers have only a cosmetic value. Yet, this offer from the PLA has some additional value of its own. For, it has come closely on the heels of an official Chinese appreciation of the optimism expressed by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in a social media interview about India-China relations. Beijing had picked up a more or less similar tune as did Mr. Modi, and the PLA offer comes in its wake.

 

So, it needs a serious consideration. There is nothing unusual about whatever has been going on between India and China for the past few years. After Mr. Modi assumed prime ministership, he has had three major summit meets with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping -- two in India and one in China. Despite those, Galwan happened. Despite those, the two countries have got locked in an extended face-off in eastern Ladakh. Despite those, there is a palpable unease between New Delhi and Beijing. And the reason is simple -- the Chinese habit of playing it hot and cold. Yet, when Mr. Modi was asked about the state of bilateral ties between India and China, he replied, in effect, that positive signs were available on the ground for building credibility into the relationship.

 

His positivism, his optimism and his extending of a hand of friendship to Beijing had their own effect and Beijing responded equally positively -- at least for record. The PLA offer of working closely with the Indian Army for a fair solution also should be considered as in line with the Beijing stance. In life -- and in diplomacy -- there are no free lunches, as they say. Whatever softening of the stance by Beijing vis-a-vis India, thus, has come out of a need the Chinese felt to bide for time until the Indian approach is understood in fuller detail. For, following the continued eastern Ladakh face-off, India has made heavy deployment manpower and defence merchandise along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A heavy refortification of 72nd Division, too, has been undertaken -- in addition to other measures India has taken. There is no doubt that India of today has moved on from the India of the 1950s and 1960s, and does not want to take expressed Chinese goodwill for granted.

 

Hence its heavy deployment of men and material -- beyond the diplomatic arena, or in spite of whatever may be happening in diplomacy. The Galwan incident and subsequent development have made it amply clear to the world that India would be willing to go any distance to protect and preserve its territory and integrity, no matter who is on the other side of the divide. India has also followed a dynamic foreign policy in the past some years to emerge as a country with global footprint in diplomacy and world affairs. More importantly, India’s defence and strategic stance vis-a-vis China has metamorphosed into a complete mechanism that stands on its own and operates all on its own.

 

These developments have made China realise that it must keep buying time and understand to what extent India would go at the time of actual confrontation -- if at all it takes place. Today’s Chinese leadership knows it all too well that the Indian leadership has moved far from what it used to be in the 1950s and 1960s and would not mind an armed confrontation if pushed to a point of no return. The PLA offer appears to be a recognition of that India’s preparedness. Its formal tone, of course, needs to be understood, all right. But the fact that such a offer has been made, is important.