On Monday, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said that New Delhi has adequate “military options” to counter Beijing’s threats at its border if military and diplomatic talks between the two powers do not yield the desired results.
“The military option to deal with transgressions by the Chinese Army in Ladakh are on but it will be exercised only if talks at the military and the diplomatic level fail,” Rawat said.
The Asian neighbours have been locked in a standoff at India’s frontier in Eastern Ladakh since April over several transgressions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in many areas, including the Galwan Valley, Kongrung Nala, Finger Area, and hot springs. So far, five talks at the Lieutenant General level, as well as other attempts at negotiations over the past three months have been unable to yield results. The latest update is that Chinese troops are refusing to disengage from the Finger Area and seem to be ’buying time’ to delay their withdrawal. Simultaneously, New Delhi has rejected Beijing’s suggestion of equidistant disengagement from the Finger Area.
However, the CDS has refused to furnish any details about the military options that India could potentially exercise to push back transgressions by the PLA in Ladakh. Yet, there is no doubt that India has been building its military capabilities. In late July, the country welcomed five Dassault Rafale fighter jets to its fleet and over the years has also added other jets, ultra-light howitzers, spike anti-tank guided missiles, and medium-range surface-to-air missiles as per military deals with the United States, Israel, and Russia.
It is worth noting that the current stand-off in eastern Ladakh has seen no mention of nuclear weapons, which experts credit to the countries’ adoption of a no first use (NFU) doctrine, which has enabled the nuclear-armed neighbours to maintain a more relaxed nuclear posture. Noting that India has not made any clear move to indicate a shift from its NFU policy, Statecraft editor Janhavi Apte opined that “moving away from the NFU will not only contradict the original purpose of India acquiring its nuclear capabilities (which was to avoid the use of nuclear weapons in war) but also taint India’s image as a responsible power, which will negatively affect its (vigorously sought after) foreign policy objectives.”
India’s CDS Says Country Has Military Options to Deal with China in Case Border Talks Fail
CDS Bipin Rawat did not disclose details about the military options available.
August 24, 2020
SOURCE: DECCAN HERALD