Mounting Trouble

With a massive military build-up on either side of the India-China border, the Doklam tussle is far from over

- Pradip R. Sagar

When a 73-day stand-off between India and China at Doklam, where the borders of India, China and Bhutan meet, ended last August, the external affairs ministry claimed the dispute had been resolved. But the armed forces have been giving reports that contradicted this. In October, Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said the forces were still deployed in the Chumbi Valley though the two sides were not in a physical face-off. Then in January, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said the time had come for India to shift focus to its northern border.

Satellite images and intelligence inputs indicate a massive build-up of the Chinese military in the area. An officer at the Army headquarters in Delhi said it was a fully fledged military complex that the Chinese had set up near the disputed site, complete with a helipad and an observation tower just 100 metres from the forward Indian post. China has increased its troops strength in Tibet as well, moving two armoured brigades close to the Chumbi Valley, which is just about 5km from the Siliguri corridor, which connects India to its northeastern states.

The Chinese have not taken back the machinery and equipment they had brought for construction of roads in Doklam. And, they seem to have a long-term plan. In fact, when asked at the time of disengagement if China would continue constructing roads in the area, Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that a relevant construction plan in accordance with the situation on ground would be made and the Chinese border troops would “continue to station and patrol the Doklam area”.