The Chinese government has just published an official map delineating its borders. This publication revived tensions with India because according to this new map, China stole part of its territory.
Another illustration of China’s expansionist desires, which is already evident in Africa in particular, through the New Silk Road project, or in Taiwan, a territory considered one of its provinces. The Chinese government’s new “standard map” has just been released and, unseen or known, Beijing is continuing to spread and take over 100,000 km2 of territory. The latter, isn’t exactly unseen or known, because the area in question is the territory of Arunachal Pradesh, a 3,500km stretch of land stretching across the Himalayas, along the Line of Effective Control.
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Many lives have been lost in the clashes
This line extends northward, towards the Aksai Chin plateau, the second friction zone. It is controlled by Beijing, but opposed by New Delhi. Recent satellite imagery even reveals the construction of underground bunkers there, designed to withstand possible air attacks.
In recent years, the two sides have no longer hesitated to make contact. In December 2022, ten Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers lost their lives in one of these clashes. Hence, this explains India’s current “tough” reaction to the publication of China’s 2023 version of this “standard map”.
Another affected neighbor
This issue will be discussed at the G20 next week in New Delhi. And the Indian Foreign Minister gave a glimpse of the mood the discussions will take. He spoke on Tuesday night on the set of Indian channel NDTV: “That’s their old custom, starting in the 1950s. We know exactly the extent of our territory, the borders that we must defend. So making preposterous claims like this wouldn’t allow anyone to take over someone else’s territory. Let this be clear.”
It nevertheless stated that this Chinese “standard card” was not content with pushing a wall on the Indian side. Taiwan is definitely a part of that, as are certain areas of the South China Sea, which have been historically contested by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines… so many geographic points that could act as triggers and lead to increased security between China and its neighbours.
Fractured anti-Western camp
Indirectly, this dispute could benefit the West, or even destroy the beautiful union demonstrated a few days ago between the two world superpowers, within the BRICS (consultation group between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
The Brics Summit on August 24th has honestly brought cold sweat to America and its allies. The emergence of a unified balancing force against the Western world, within these Bric countries, China and India join hands to strengthen, according to the terms of the final declaration, “peace and development in the world”. Today’s episode is an interesting way to go about it.
