Map Dispute Shadows Xi Jimping's G20 Summit India Visit
As India eagerly prepares to host the G20 summit in the vibrant city of New Delhi, an unexpected shadow has been cast over the event due to a map controversy initiated by China. Beijing's release of what it refers to as a “standard map” has raised eyebrows and stirred speculation, prompting a closer look at the underlying motivations.
This contentious map includes territorial claims that extend into parts of eastern Ladakh, following a line from the 1959 perspective, and encompasses Arunachal Pradesh within China's ambit. This move isn't limited to India alone; it extends to encompass Taiwan and the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Also Read: China’s Latest Map Incorporates Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin into Its Territories
One may wonder why China chose this particular juncture to release this map, and why it is actively disseminating it through its propaganda machinery on various social media platforms. The answer takes us back to the recent BRICS summit held in Johannesburg, where a brief interaction between India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping took place on the fringes of the event. It was here that China expressed its desire for a bilateral meeting with India, aimed at mending ties without conceding any ground on issues such as the Depsang Bulge and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh.
Unfortunately, due to scheduling constraints, a full-fledged meeting between the two leaders couldn't materialize, and the interaction remained a fleeting moment. Even in this brief encounter, Prime Minister Modi made it clear that the path to normalized relations hinged upon addressing the ongoing border concerns. This implies a necessity for disengagement and de-escalation along the Eastern Ladakh border, as well as a resolution of the lingering friction points.
Evidently, President Xi Jinping took Prime Minister Modi's response to heart, interpreting it as an unequivocal stance that a return to normalcy could only happen once the People's Liberation Army (PLA) withdrew from Aksai Chin – an area India considers part of its territory – and India regained patrolling rights in the Depsang Bulge and at the CNN junction in Demchok. This response, coupled with India's firm rejection of China's territorial claims, appears to have irked Xi Jinping.
The release of this “standard map” on the eve of the G20 summit carries implicit messages. It signals China's view of India as a rival and implies that Beijing is willing to exert pressure to discourage India from strengthening its ties with the United States and other powers in the Quad alliance. This stance translates into sustained military pressure along the 3,488-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two nations, along with potential support for Pakistan along India's western borders.
The disheartening reality is that the transgressions made by the People's Liberation Army in East Ladakh, which disregarded the bilateral peace and tranquility agreements of 1993 and 1996, have shattered the trust that underpinned these accords.
With these events in mind, India must be prepared for the worst while engaging with China. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India aspires to a position of prominence on the global stage, rather than being overshadowed by a Communist China. India's response to China's cartographic expansion will be measured and timely, ensuring its interests and sovereignty are firmly upheld.
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