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China-India border dispute: as crisis drags on, are Beijing and New Delhi digging in for permanent militarisation of LAC?
- Both militaries have been locked in a stand-off for 19 months after several rounds of talks to resolve the border row
- China and India have also scaled up infrastructure and troops along the disputed frontier which analysts say could be long-lasting and lead to rise in clashes
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Both China and India say they want to resolve their military stand-off in the Himalayas. But 19 months after the first showdown, are Beijing and New Delhi digging in for what appears to be a permanent border confrontation?
This is the question analysts are asking amid a deadlock in military-level talks after the 13th round of talks in October ended in a bitter blame game.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against “mutual exhaustion” with neighbouring India in a virtual meeting with New Delhi’s outgoing envoy to China earlier this month. Both expressed hope that tensions would ease soon.
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But even if progress towards a resolution is made, the hardening battle lines may remain for good, experts say, as it will be difficult to walk back from the current effort by both sidse to entrench themselves firmly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the unmarked 3,488km border between India and China.
Over the last year, both sides have engaged in frenetic construction of roads, garrisons and airstrips.
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Observers said the urgent airlifting of logistical winter supplies suggests both militaries would step up troop levels throughout the year which could result in a possible uptick in conflict between Chinese and Indian soldiers.
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