The ongoing border tensions between India and China escalated when the Indian Army Chief hinted that China’s alleged aggression in the region could lead to war. On one hand, China has a defense budget of 224 billion dollars, on the other hand, India’s defense budget is much less than that, while the progress of Russia and China to increase their military strength in space can also be said to be an important expression of the strength of both countries.
In such a situation, India is well aware that any negative move against China could lead to a major war in the region, as we have seen in the Ukraine despite Russia’s warning in the matter of making Ukraine a member of NATO. Something similar may happen to India, so India is already closely monitoring this whole situation.
There are several places on the approximately 3600 km long Sino-Indian border where the two armies come face to face. China is gradually increasing its economic and military power to the peak, whose strategy is significantly different from that of the United States. It has begun to emerge as a relatively more acceptable world power for other nations. War in the region itself is not in the interest of India and China, nor can other countries in the region be in favor of it.
The Indian Army Chief’s anti-China statement may also be a way to gain support from the US and its NATO allies. The Ladakh region between India and China is claimed by both countries as a result of which the India-China border has been a long-standing dispute. Unless an acceptable world power comes forward as an arbitrator between the two countries, there can be no definitive decision on the ownership claims of the disputed territory.
Under Chapter 6 of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council can also play an important role in the Sino-Indian conflict. After the role of mediator is played, whatever the decision is, both the countries have to respect it. If we keep the example of Malacca and the South China Sea in front of us, China is not willing to settle for anything less than its ownership of the disputed area, while we can only hope that in case of a war with China, the Western countries and the United States will not help India in the same way they done with Ukraine.
What happened to Ukraine can only be described as exploitation in the name of aid, which has resulted in completely destruction of a prosperous country. Something similar may happen in India. Whether we talk about military equipment, economic situation or scientific development, China is far ahead of India in every field. As a result of the joint efforts of Russia and China, the United States is also very worried about China’s ability to achieve space warfare.
In this alarming situation, if India tries to do any adventure, the result can be very alarming as India has sacrificed thousands of lives as a result of this conflict both in recent and distant past. In 1962, compared to 1600 Chinese soldiers, 80 thousand people of India were killed, while compared to 1962, today China has become much stronger and economically prosperous.
This situation in the region will surely affect other important issues of the region including the Kashmir issue. The effects of this war on other South Asian countries including Pakistan can be long-lasting and devastating.
China is developing rapidly in every field which the US wants to stop and if any conflict in the region flares up, the role of the US cannot be ignored, making it a war of 2 blocs instead of two countries. Which can bring immense destruction. America is the largest investor in India after China. The war between the US and China is more than a disputed territory, it is also about asserting its own monopoly because the reason for the US investment in India is to limit China’s influence.
On the other hand, China is also not alone and Russia is openly supporting it. Both countries have proved their importance to the international community in other fields including defense technology. China is also ahead of India in other fields including artificial intelligence, 5G technology and electronics and has great respect for the UN Charter, which India has repeatedly flouted.
It is necessary that both China and India sit at the negotiation table to reduce the growing tension in the region, while both countries have been negotiating for a long time to resolve their conflicts, though these negotiations have not been successful to find a long -lasting solution that is acceptable to both parties. Still, the conflicts between the two countries can engulf the entire region, in such a case, both the countries will have to forget their conflicts and take steps for mutual understanding in the great interest of the region.
