Things are cooling off on the Doklam plateau as the cold season begins on the unchartered borders shared by China, India and Bhutan.
This region, part of an eastward extension of the Himalayan range, was the scene of a bitter standoff between the Chinese and Indian militaries in a territorial row a few months ago.
Luckily, rationality prevailed as Beijing and New Delhi sought to avoid an internecine showdown, although nationalist sentiment was stoked in both countries.
Both sides have to back down when frigid weather seals off the plateau, but the feud is still simmering.
For New Delhi, it was obvious that Beijing’s fortification of the border area – including widening a road for the People’s Liberation Army, which sparked the tension – had endangered its national security. That is because Doklam is close to the Siliguri Corridor, aka the Chicken’s Neck, a vital strip just 27 kilometers wide at its narrowest, that links its eastern states to the rest of India.
Beijing’s motive, other than beefing up its military buildup in Tibet, has much to do with the question of Taiwan.
Hong Kong-based military commentator Andrei Chang noted in a column that Beijing is deeply concerned that India might “stab it in the back” if it sends troops in a southeast direction to reclaim Taiwan, should the renegade island declare independence.
The PLA would have to fight two wars – one in front and a second at the rear – should New Delhi, which has never been amicable with Beijing, take the opportunity to pick a fight on the Chinese border.
Roughly 80% of the PLA’s exercises and drills over the years simulate sea and air attacks, plus ground maneuvers, to reclaim Taiwan, as well as fending off involvement of the United States and its Asian allies, Chang said, while the remaining 20% have related to possible conflicts with India in a harsh high-altitude environment.
Last month, regiments in the PLA’s Western Theater Command, who patrol the Indian-Tibetan border, had a large drill in a craggy plateau to test the war readiness of its soldiers and weaponry in frigid weather conditions, the PLA Daily reported.
With Beijing and New Delhi still lacking mutual trust and regarding the other as a threat to border security, the Doklam plateau and the rest of the 3,380km border have become a militarized strip, where both sides continue to pile up troops and ammunition.
Observers say if Beijing resumes efforts to widen the road at Doklam in spring next year, New Delhi will deploy more guided missiles along the border.
Wild imagination, Must be on opiates.
Wishful fantasy!
Heisenberg White It’s already happening.
Frank has appeared out of the smoke.
Role of US should China captures Taiwan not discussed here in details .
China is a hagemon and Bully.. Chinese think they’re being clever by grabbing land and sea but they’ll realise the futility of it soon
India should stab from from front,rear as a revenge which China did in 1962
"…New Delhi, which has never been amicable with Beijing…"
You evidently know no history. Forgotten "Hindi-Chini-Bahi-Bhai"
India has no connection with Taiwan. India is intensifying its alliance with the USA to withstand China, but that is a different matter.
India has no connection with Taiwan. India is intensifying its alliance with the USA to withstand China, but that is a different matter.
Most Chinese folks have a phobia for Indian rape than a stab.
China should cut off Siliguri corridor from India and give a chance to north East India to be independent.we will wipe the rss (idol worship ing cow piss drinker from our land including the new delhi’s fielded politician from our state.
India is no white whatsoever whether to US or China. India has to think shrewdly who is the bigger devil of the two to make friends with.
I think u r sharing ur experience "how usa ditch Pakistan as non-white" and using "carrot n stick" policy to snub Pakistan over nurturing terrorists..India knows very well what should it do or not.. India has proved robust foreign policy n economic stability… Instead of teaching others go n save pakistan
What did you smoke ?
Most Indians think about all the massage parlors when they about China.o
What revenge!!! It was a border skirmish which ended with a shameful defeat for India, due mostly to the blunders on the Indian part and total lack of foresight on Nehru’s part. It should also be borne in mind that PLA was qualitatively much inferior to what it is now.
Talk sense
1971 mai, India ne tumhare mulk ke do tukre kiye the.. Iss baar phir jang hua na, tho bachoge nahi. Tum sabko ek saatha allah ke paas bhej denge.
Sandesh Herwade : Pakis are shameless. US day and night bombs by Drone inside Pakistan but they can’t do anything to this foreign adventure.
First try to stop US drone attacks inside Pakistan, then talk about Trump. Kuch kar nahi paate ho…
You should simply understand that India is not capable to fight with China….if China really want to destroy India….india will be completely destroy,because it isn’t build as much as you think? India is still on debate about how to provide toilets to its cetizen and how to educate them to shit in toilets…it is still not able to teach it’s citizen very basic things such as how to eat n where to shit…..war games can push them to disaster…..
India can’t spend money on war….it is crime against humanity,because it’s big population are really poor…money should go to them n not to war…….and taiwan shameless politician should spend money on its citizen,it’s been 20 years the basic salary is same…not increase….these two place have no moral grounds to have war fantasy…
China is surrounded by hostile states that it bullied. If taiwan declared independence, india should take the opportunity to gets it land back from china and open a second front in war. And vietnam, philippines, will also join the war to surround china. While US and Japan were protecting Taiwan from PRC attacks.
Sandesh Herwade nice slap for Muhammad.u said correctly
Dinesh Dutta super
It is impractical and irrational that India will implicate in war with china it does not seem so illogical China will undertake exprditions to annex once its renegade territory
I hope it will happen. Three wars actually. Third is NK vs US and allies where China will get involed for NK.
China should realise the fact that India will respect China’s sovereignty claims only if China reciprocates . While Chinese leadership continues to provoke India on its sovereignty.it expects support on Taiwan and Tibet. Chinese leadership must remember indo China people’ s centuries old good will.
This is the simplest equation to Indian as well as Taiwan.
India should be always ready to perform military operation indeed on behalf of Tiwan. India obviously should make better ties with Taiwan giving assurance staying with them at any risk, such as the USA help Taiwan. India have to follow " While in Rome do as the Romans do"
Taiwan is NOT a "renegade" island. It has been self-ruling ever since the Communists kicked the Nationalists out of China, and the latter set up shop here. Stop pushing PRC propaganda and calling it "news".
Jai Hind! Taiwan loves India! Our tech hubs of Hsinchu and Bangalore should exchange! Remember, we share much more in common than just a common enemy.
But Taiwan should start building up ties with India.
India has no reasonable ground to wage war with China if it involves in fight with Taiwan to bring back its renegade island.