Will China’s New Border Create Troubles For India?

From Saturday, China will enforce new border legislation, which could complicate matters further for India at its northern border. From now on, China will heat up following its currently controversial position on the actual line of control, and will further develop model villages on borders used for both military and civilian purposes, according to  sources. .. Due to provocative claims, China renamed 15 Arunachal Pradesh locations on the map on December 30, 2021. Major General Ashok Kumar (retired) told IANS: “The new Land Border Act is the latest attempt by China to unilaterally divide the territorial border between India and Bhutan.”

  The law being introduced and the accelerating of the construction of 624 “Xiaokong”, also called model villages, along with India’s border will have a positive impact on India, said Major General Ashok Kumar. In line with this, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has created the terms of a “militarized solution” to the border problem. ” The method is a hybrid unconventional warfare method used for illegally controlling the sovereign space of other nations that has evolved into a neo conservative nation-building exercise that tolerates no resistance from those nations.  On October 23, China’s highest legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,  passed a new law on “protection and exploitation of national border areas.”

The Commission said the new law would come into effect on January 1. This law does not specifically cover the border with India. In addition to its 22,457km of border with 14 countries, China also has a 2,447km border with India, which is the third-longest after those with Mongolia and Russia. The new border law consists of 62 articles and 7 chapters.

According to the law, the People’s Republic of China must set boundary markers on the boundaries of all lands to indicate the border.  The type of marking must be decided in agreement with each neighbouring country. The law also stated that the PLA and the People’s Armed Police of China would maintain security along the border. This responsibility involves working with local governments to combat illegal border crossings.

 The law prohibits parties from engaging in activities in  border areas that “endanger national security or undermine friendly relations with China’s neighbours.” This includes building a permanent building for anyone without the permission of the relevant authorities. We also find that citizens and local organizations are required to protect and defend border infrastructure, ensure border security and stability, and work with government agencies to maintain border security. I did. The law lays the foundation for the development of border areas. The People’s Republic of China “strengthens the sense of community in China, promotes the spirit of China, defends national unity and territorial integrity, strengthens citizens’ feelings toward the country,  and is home.”

Ensure stronger border security, support economic and social development, improve public services and infrastructure in border areas, and promote and support the well-being of people there. Enhancing coordination between “economic development of border areas”. Indeed, this shows a move to resettle civilians in border areas. This law is in the midst of a border dispute with India.  India claims that China has illegally occupied the Indian Territory of about 38,000 square kilometres of  Aksai Chin, which borders eastern Ladakh.

China received approximately 5,180 square kilometers of Pakistani territory, which had been illegally occupied by Pakistan. A border dispute has been raging between India and China for 20 months, and both sides are engaged in military and diplomatic talks to resolve the issue. Taking effect on October 23, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the first special law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) titled “Border Law”. This law provides provisions for border security and the integration of border areas.

There are currently 14 nations that share borders with China, including Russia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and more. China has 22,000 kilometers of borders with 14 countries. The new border law will come into effect on January 1, 2022. There are 62 articles and 7 chapters. The law covers the following topics: 

• Border boundaries and surveys

 The new law requires China to mark borders on all land boundaries to indicate borders. The type of marking must be decided in agreement with each neighbouring country. B. Border area management and defence

 The PLA and the PLA are responsible for maintaining security along the border. This responsibility involves working with local governments to combat illegal border crossings.

 The new law provides for China to mark the boundaries of all lands to mark the borders. The type of marking must be decided in agreement with each neighbouring country. The law prohibits parties from engaging in activities in  border areas that “endanger national security or affect friendships with China’s neighbours.” This includes the construction of permanent buildings by humans without the approval of the competent authority. Citizens and even local organizations are tasked with protecting and defending border infrastructure, ensuring border security and stability, and working with government agencies to maintain border security.

Regarding the development of border areas, the law states that “China should educate and promote to strengthen China’s community consciousness, promote China’s spirit, defend the national unity and territorial integrity, and strengthen its senses. To build a common spiritual home for national and home security citizens’ gatherings and Chinese citizens among the citizens of the border area, which regulates. For this purpose, the law is public at the border.

It provides for improved services and infrastructure, ensuring their livelihoods and improving living conditions. Last but not least, the law includes borders such as wars, armed conflicts, biological and chemical accidents, natural disasters, and accidents affecting public health. It stipulates that borders should be closed in the event of an incident that jeopardizes the security of the population.

• International cooperation with neighbouring countries on cross-border issues.

 For cross-border countries, the law states that China’s relations with these countries should be based on the principle of “equality and mutual benefit.” In addition, the law provides for the formation of joint civil and military commissions with the aforementioned countries to negotiate border control of land and resolve border-related issues.

The law also stipulates that China will comply with border treaties signed with each country and that all border issues should be resolved through negotiations. The law provides for the closure of borders in the event of an incident that threatens the safety of border residents, such as wars, armed conflicts, biological and chemical accidents, natural disasters, and public health accidents.

The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated a few days after the bill had been passed, “There are concerns about China’s unilateral decision to enact a bill that could interfere with bilateral border control agreements and border issues.”.

I issued a statement saying. China also hopes, under the excuse of this law, to avoid measures that could unilaterally change the situation in the border area between India and China. The legitimacy of the 1963 “Border Agreement” It should be noted that China has not signed a border agreement only with India and Bhutan. Some say India’s criticism of the new law was an overreaction, as the law itself is not controversial.

As further clarified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will adhere to all border treaties that it has already signed. It is important to note that border policy is likely to have been deep in the heart for factors other than tense relations with India. After the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, China is concerned that Islamic extremists have invaded the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and destabilized the region. Another concern for China is to strengthen the border between Myanmar and Vietnam. Illegal crossings from these countries have been reported to contribute to the increase in 19 COVID cases in China.

 But if China’s recent aggressive action is some indicator, the Indian government’s concerns are justified. In 2020, China formed a huge number of troops to claim claims along the Galloway River in Ladakh, Demchok, Demchok, Lake Pangong, and the border between Sikkim and Tibet. The two countries have suffered several casualties during the conflict. Earlier in 2017, India and China clashed in Dokulam, a conflict area between Bhutan and China. In this region, both countries were on the verge of widespread war. Even more worrisome about the new border law is its timing and language.

Ladakh’s actual line of control (LAC) has been stalemated for 18 months, and a failed rebellion on the 13th ultimately led to the law’s passage.Further border disputes as the new law make China’s borders “sacred and inviolable” and the PLA responsible for protecting those borders may refuse to “claim” the actual borders. It can be an obstacle to negotiations. Pradesh and Ladakh. A number of cross-border rivers and lakes, such as the Brahmaputra and Yarlung Zangbo, have been designated as having “measures to ensure the stability of cross-border waterways”, so China may limit the water flow into India.China can cite this provision in the case of hydropower projects that can cause ecological disasters in India and call it legitimate action.

Chinese claims to possess sovereignty over Indian Territory have become more active in recent years. Finally, the law calls for increased settlement of civilians and improved infrastructure along with border areas. China has previously used a strategy to move the “civilian” population along the disputed part of the LAC, claiming legal property based on this. The new law could exacerbate such cases and cause further problems between the two countries.

 Conclusion

It is important to note that this new border law will not change the dynamic of India-China relations. The Chinese government has become increasingly active in its claim to sovereignty over the Indian Territory in recent years. China has so far taken various steps to escalate border issues with India against conflict areas, including the construction of roads near the border, its use as a civilian asset, and the repeated passage of  LAC by the  Indian Territory’s PLA. I have strengthened my claim.

The law itself is not a major concern, but it is the government and military action that interprets and even ignores the law that has been enforced according to their agenda in the past. As former Indian ambassador Gortam Bambaware said, the law only states that it is the Chinese military’s actions and India’s response to what affects the land situation. Therefore, India’s reaction to the passage of the border bill may have been exaggerated at first, but India’s concerns may become apparent in the coming years.

edited and proofread by nikita sharma