No common ground on the Doklam plateau:

No common ground on the Doklam plateau: (The Hindu, Editorial) (The Cartographic aggression of China)

Context

• China’s current claims over the Doklam plateau can be seen as an instance of cartographic aggression, which China often engages in.

China’s action

• China may have temporarily halted its road construction programme, but it appears determined to hold on to its position.
• India is equally clear that it cannot afford to back down, having gone to Bhutan’s assistance at a time of need.

China and India stand-off om Doklam

• For both India – China, it seems that the Doklam stand-off very differently.
• For China, the issue is one of territorial ‘sovereignty’.
• For India, the issue is one of national security.
• Both appear irreconcilable.
• China is generally not known to make concessions when it comes to aspects of territorial ‘sovereignty’.
• This would be the case if Chinese claims to the Doklam plateau are accepted and the tri-junction is accepted to be further south at Mt.
• Gipmochi.
• It would bring China within striking distance of India’s vulnerable ‘Chicken Neck’, the Siliguri Corridor, the life-line to India’s Northeast.
• Diplomacy should customarily have been the way out, but relations between India and China are far from cordial at present.
• Even at the highest levels, there are few signs of a collaboration.
• No bilateral meeting took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit is best example.

Conclusion

• India needs to read proper meanings into China’s unwillingness to hold talks at the highest level.
• China is categorically laying down difficult pre-conditions for talks, though India is open to the idea of discussions without pre-conditions.
• These are well reflected in the differences seen between the high voltage Chinese reaction and the measured response of the Indian side.