India incursion and Chinese standoff at Dolam, Bhutan

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Equation

Lieutenant General
Doklam: After more than 2 months China has not yet counter-attacked!
China may be stronger than India on paper but it is the quality of the leader that matters. Modi >> Xi!
Xi should send half the PLA to Doklam. Perhaps 1 million soldiers of the PLA could defeat a few hundreds Indian soldiers.
Is the PLA good only for marching?
Are you only good for trolling?o_O
 
now I read
Commentary: India to face the consequences of its strategic miscalculation
Xinhua| 2017-08-25 23:36:03
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It has now entered the third month since Indian military trespassed into Chinese territory, to which China has shown the utmost tolerance. India must take any possible consequences if it continues to miscalculate the situation.

On June 18, over 270 armed Indian troops with two bulldozers crossed the eastern boundary into Doklam, China's sovereign territory, to obstruct Chinese infrastructure construction.

It is a double standard, as India has approved the building of a military road to facilitate troop deployment near the western part of China-India border to "ensure the strength of the Indian border troops."

On Aug. 22, Chinese troops, patrolling on the Chinese side of Pangong Lake, suffered injuries from the reckless actions of Indian troops, which once again reflected India`s insincerity and self-contradictions in resolving the Sino-India border issue peacefully.

A senior Indian official has said that the country has not attacked any other country and has no ambition to expand its boundaries.

However, the Indian military has trespassed over the mutually recognized boundary that has been abided by both sides for nearly 130 years and its troops remain on Chinese territory.

China has proved its sovereignty of Doklam to the international community with convincing evidence, including the historical convention from 1890.

Meanwhile, China has not closed the door to diplomatic dialogue with India to ease tensions.

Since the 1960s, through negotiation and consultation, China has delimited 20,000 kilometers of land boundary and is in complete accord with 12 out of its 14 land neighbors.

"India thinks that the international situation is good enough for it to test China's bottom line," Li Qingyan, an expert on South Asia issues at China Institute of International Studies, told Xinhua.

But India may have miscalculated China's stance in defending its sovereignty. China's bottom line is the border line, as shown in the Sino-Indian border conflict in 1962.

China values peace and the interests of innocent people on both side of the border, that is why it has remained patient in the face of such encroachment.

China has never made the first move in wars fought since 1949 but it would not flinch if a war were to be inflicted upon its people.

The prerequisite for settlement of the border standoff is the unconditional withdrawal of all trespassing personnel and equipment to the Indian side.

China has sent this message openly to India through many channels over the past 60 days.

Now, it is time for India to abide by the law, respect historical facts, to match words with deeds and make the wise decision based on reasonable strategic calculation.

China and India are two developing giants with a wide range of common interests. A sensible bilateral relationship will benefit more than two billion people, nearly one-third of the global population.

The ball has been placed in India's court.
 

AndrewS

Brigadier
Registered Member
Doklam: After more than 2 months China has not yet counter-attacked!
China may be stronger than India on paper but it is the quality of the leader that matters. Modi >> Xi!
Xi should send half the PLA to Doklam. Perhaps 1 million soldiers of the PLA could defeat a few hundreds Indian soldiers.
Is the PLA good only for marching?

What is the long-term benefit of China attacking India for a piece of barren land that has no practical strategic use?
 

manqiangrexue

Brigadier
Doklam: After more than 2 months China has not yet counter-attacked!
China may be stronger than India on paper but it is the quality of the leader that matters. Modi >> Xi!
Xi should send half the PLA to Doklam. Perhaps 1 million soldiers of the PLA could defeat a few hundreds Indian soldiers.
Is the PLA good only for marching?
Xi takes islands surrounded by rich fishing waters and natural gas in the SCS and militarized them even with the US as opposition. Modi "took" half a NY apartment sized worth of barren mountain land that he knows he's going to have to spit back out soon. You figure out whom >> whom.

In 1962, India had 9 months to talk like you before they choked on their own blood. If China's still as patient, then you have another half a year to be happy!

Are you familiar with the story of Hercules vs. the Hydra? The Hydra is a powerful enemy that Hercules must fight carefully, but to distract his concentration, Hercules' enemies sent a crab to pinch at his foot during the battle. Had Hercules turned his blade to crush the crab, the Hydra would have engulfed him with his back turned. The US and its current provocations in Korea is the Hydra. China is Hercules and India is the crab. The crab better quit and scurry home before the Hydra eases off if it doesn't wanna end up in the wok as a celebration meal.
 
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Dizasta1

Senior Member
India would do well to mend relations with China. Both countries suffered at the hands of colonial powers and both countries used to flourish prior to that. If ever China, India, Russia, Pakistan & Iran were to form a military and economic alliance. It would rival or surpass NATO. All countries, in particular China and India, would benefit from working together. And China was the first one to recognize this, when it welcomed India into the SCO. And the SCO has the potential to really prosper and benefit all member countries.
 

AndrewS

Brigadier
Registered Member
India claims, It makes it easier for China to seal of India from her north eastern territories by road.

For China, the Doklam area is at the end of a very long (and vulnerable) supply chain all the way across the Tibetan Plateau.

In comparison, the Indian side of Doklam backs onto populated lowland areas, and they have stationed an entire army corps there.

From a military point of view, it doesn't really matter if China controls Doklam or not. What matters is that China establishes air superiority. That is what will give China the ability resupply its troops, cut the Indian transport routes to the Northeastern states and also attack the Indian army units at will.

A few KM of road in Doklam is useful for moving troops, but not a big deal.

---

In comparison, the SCS does matter to China, and we've seen what China is capable of doing there.
 

discspinner

Junior Member
Registered Member
Though commentary from China's government has resurfaced this week, thankfully, it appears China is showing continued restraint that may last an additional week or two. China is also clever in utilizing all of the tools in its drawer including making a huge bribe of $10 Billion to Bhutan (population 800,000, remember China's pledge of $20B to India) in developmental assistance. This makes economic sense given a war would be far costlier, and I wouldn't be surprised if China increased its offer substantially.

Even if Bhutan were to relent and declare its diplomatic independence from India by establishing relations with China, I still don't see a conclusion to the stand off on the ground. The question remains as to what India will actually do if Bhutan were to establish diplomatic relations with China by signing a border treaty presumably favorably placing Doklam plateau within Chinese territory. Will India adhere to Bhutan's wishes, or will it do the opposite by trying to annex Bhutan.

Per the situation in Doklam, the commentary from China's news outlets now suggest that a definite resolution may only occur after the BRICS summit (although I don't see the supposed relevance of the BRICS meeeting). However, I do not believe China is going to perpetually kick the can down the road until winter arrives. The commentary from China has explicitly stated that the longer this standoff drags on, the greater India benefits. The large scale military deployment on the border by the PLA incurs a significant cost as well.

From the military angle, I think it is quite reasonable to reason what China's strategy is. A sizable mobile force is stationed in central southern Tibet south of Lhasa near China's transportation infrastructure that can respond to and meet any Indian advance into Tibet. Meanwhile, Ladakh would be the staging ground for a ground assault, if the situation presents itself. This make sense because such a location would be further from India's own supply lines, on terrain more suitable for mechanized warfare, and be closer to PLA airbases in Xinjiang, and supply line to central China more safely protected / repairable on flatter ground. Of course, we all know where the real prize is if war comes to it.
 
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