Friendly overtures, hostile actions

The unpredictability of China’s policies and conduct has been proved again by its decision to establish two new counties in its Hotan Prefecture under the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Parts of the jurisdiction of these counties fall in the Union Territory of Ladakh, in the Aksai Chin area. Such arbitrary and unilateral actions go against the spirit of bilateral relations.

The move comes days after China and India reaffirmed their commitment to cordial relations and resolving differences. Last month, the two countries resumed talks at the level of Special Representatives, which had been suspended for years.

Prior to that, the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Russia appeared to initiate a process of mending relations damaged after the 2020 confrontation between the troops of the two countries in Ladakh.

India has lodged a protest with China over its action. It has stated that the creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s long-standing position regarding its sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China’s illegal and forcible occupation of the area.

Only recently both sides had agreed to disengage their troops in the disputed area. During last month’s talks, China had given the impression that it was keen on mending relations and extending the goodwill to other areas.

The Chinese policy has often been characterised by contradictory signals in the past. Even when it claimed to be keen on improving ties, it has provoked India. It has objected to the visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, large parts of which it claims as its own. It has also made settlements near the border and expanded and strengthened the military infrastructure in those areas.

India has also conveyed its concern over China’s plan to build a mega dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo, known as the Brahmaputra in India. It is now known that there were no consultations between the two countries over the proposed dam.

Normally there is consultation between countries on the construction of dams on rivers that flow through them because the flow of water, ecology, and other factors are involved. China has not been transparent about its plans for the dam and has not disclosed any details.

India has taken up the matter with the Chinese government and urged it to ensure that the interests of the downstream states are not harmed by activities in upstream areas.

It has also said that it will protect its own interests. An old lesson that should be learned again and again is that India has to exercise more than abundant caution in dealing with China.