While the coronavirus outbreak has affected the whole world, there is a great military tension between China and India. As a result of this, tens of soldiers lost their lives in this tension on the borders of two countries that host the world's most populated area and have nuclear powers. However, today the eyes were turned into hot developments in the region. So how did this crisis break out? What is behind the scenes of the problems between the two countries? Experts think that the tensions with the border dispute and historical competition are not independent of the cold war process that the United States has started against China.
The sovereignty debate on the border between China and India turned into military tension. After the crisis, which resulted in the death of dozens of Indian and Chinese soldiers, the fact that both countries dispatched large numbers of ammunition and troops to the Ladakh region in the west of the Himalaya Mountains increased concerns.
So what is behind the scenes of the crisis between India and China? What is the source of this military tension?
South Asian expert Dr. Jengiz Topel Mermer, who is popular wit his commentaries on Yeni Şafak says:
- "The border dispute between India and China has emerged from the ground base, but the problem has a historical basis. And the problem lies in the 19th century rivalry between the Chinese Empire, the Tsarist Russia and British India. This has a clear connection with the cold war launched by the United States against China. From the beginning of the 2000's, the United States regards India as a balance and supports it in all areas. Obviously this encourages the country of India that once lost in 1962 battle and still carry on a security concern against China".
USA considers India as a factor of balance
"Given the above facts, under the last crisis, the road started in the Ladak region of India, which moves with the support of the USA, lies in the development and infrastructure development".
The Relationship between China and Pakistan is Vital
Stressing that the strengthened relations between China and Pakistan are not independent of this military tension, J.Topel continued as follows:
"The alliance relationship between China and Pakistan is crucial for both. The Gwadar Port on the coast of Balochistan Province of Pakistan, which started to be developed in 2002 with Chinese financing, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with the Project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. While extending to Turkey adds great value to both countries in many areas such as commercial, administrative, military, etc., it also makes India disadvantaged in the opposite direction. China built surveillance points at the high points of the Aksai Chin Desert in the Ladak region, which it occupied in the war of 1962, It has gained a tactical field advantage in securing Tibetan connection roads.The road started in India, Ladak region.It aims to provide transportation to Karakurum Pass, where China and Pakistan have physical contact with construction and infrastructure works, and this is the basis of the current crisis. As details about the beginning of the last crisis emerged, India was trying to eliminate the weakness of its loss in 1962, but it seems to have been prevented by Chinese soldiers. "
Coronavirus Process was Effective in Developments
In addition, global developments are also very effective on the problem. It is not accidental that the China-Indian border crisis emerged at a time when the Western world, which suffered great casualties in the pandemic struggle, started to put China under pressure due to its role in the exit of the pandemic. China, which has seen the pressure due to the pandemic, is already trying to take preventive measures. While China has successfully survived the first phase of the fight against the pandemic, it should also be taken into consideration that India has not yet completed the first phase of the pandemic process and has not been able to carry out the process successfully.
India Continues to aust Muslims
The Indian Administration, which entered the pandemic process with internal separation and violence, continues to heat the fault lines while continuing its policy of marginalizing the Muslims. The Ram Temple, which continues to keep Kashmir as a semi-open prison, has also started the construction process, which is planned to be built in place of the Babi Masjid. Moreover, India adds new sensitivities to the vulnerabilities created by the pandemic process. Modi and BJP do not appear to be aware that it serves to strengthen social opposition, while continuing on the ideal of Hindu nationalism.
"China thinks the queue will come to Tibet"
I think China is aware of the role of Western and Indian intelligence agencies in troubled areas where it previously had internal security issues. Aware that the cold war that the US started with trade wars will continue and that India will play a key role in this strategy, China also sees that the turn will come to Tibet. In this context, China is already trying to strengthen the Tibetan line and the Pakistani bond. From the developments experienced in this crisis process; It is possible to understand that China is determined not to allow an Indian Border Road project, which is likely to play a role in piercing Tibetan borders and supporting Tibetan separatism. China, who thinks that India is trying to prepare the infrastructure of its encircling strategy by taking the support of the USA; He gives the message that he will not make concessions in the Himalayas, especially in the Ladak Region. Considering its economic investments in Pakistan; It seems that China is determined not to allow Indian steps to weaken the tactical field advantages in this connection.
"China reminds India of its weak points"
While China takes the initiative itself in the Western Sector (Ladak Region), it directs the developments and includes Nepal in the Middle Sector. It is important that China includes Nepal in this crisis and send messages through Nepal. In addition to expanding the problem area of India, China reminds India of its weak points in the military field. It is very difficult for Indian people, most of whom live in a tropical geography, to experience military service, let alone in the harsh geography of the Himalayas. For this reason, the Indian Army uses Nepalese soldiers (Gurkhas) and soldiers from the Northeast states, where separatism problems are still alive in this geography. While China reminds India of the sensitive structure of the region through the identity of these soldiers, it gives the message that it can pose new problems through the deputies. "
Historical process of the crisis in the region
Stating that the border problem experienced by the two countries became chronic after 1962, Topel explained the historical backlash between China and India in the region as follows:
"The British, who took control of the Russian threat in the Western Himalayas, determined the borders on the Russians and the Small Pamir mountains as a result of the negotiations between 1890-1895. The British Empire, which had no rival in the Eastern Himalayas, was only on the table with the Chinese Empire before World War I. During the negotiations between the British Foreign Minister and the representative of China, in Simla, in the north of India, in July 1914, although the consensus on the principles that will determine the border between China and China was recorded by the Simla agreement, World War I was approaching. Due to the fact that the British architect, who is the architect of the agreement, named after the Minister of Foreign Affairs McMahon (McMahon Line), Britain had withdrawn from the region, China and India did not come to the agenda. This is the British heritage, when the first half finally gained their independence. he had to face the problem.
Founded in 1949, Mao China claimed the historical heritage of China and did not accept the McMahon Line. With the adoption of McMahon Line, which is the continuation of British India, the crisis has progressed and caused war. After a raid attack by China on September 08, 1962, the Chinese army occupied some strategic points in India's Arunachal Pradesh Province and Ladak regions. While China ended the war by declaring a unilateral ceasefire on November 21, 1962, it added the Aksai China Desert it occupied in the Ladak Region to the country, and withdrew from the area it occupied in the Province of Arunachal Pradesh. Since this war, the parties could not agree on the borders of Himalaya, and new crises have been constantly experienced due to historical claims. The problem has become even more complicated in the last decade as the two countries, which have entered the millennium with a strong trend, tend to power policies. Assuming that China's development potential will threaten its global hegemony, the fact that the USA sees and encourages India as a leverage at the point of balancing the rise of PRC, has accelerated the crisis. "
By Dr. Jengiz Topel MERMER
Translated by Elnur Enveroglu
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