New Delhi: India’s “logic†in stopping the Chinese military from constructing a road in the Doklam area of Sikkim sector on behalf of Bhutan can be applied to Kashmir as well, an analyst at a Chinese think tank has said.
Writing in the state-controlled Global Times, Long Xingchun, Director at the Centre for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, said a “third country’s” army could enter Kashmir at Pakistan’s request.
“Even if India were requested to defend Bhutan’s territory, this could only be limited to its established territory, not the disputed area,” Xingchun said in the article.
“Otherwise, under India’s logic, if the Pakistani government requests, a third country’s Army can enter the area disputed by India and Pakistan, including India-controlled Kashmir,” the article said.
The media in China parrots the establishment’s line and has recently carried a barrage of critical articles on the Doklam standoff criticising India, but this is the first time that Pakistan and Kashmir have been brought into the narrative.
“Indian troops invaded China’s Doklam area in the name of helping Bhutan, but in fact the invasion was intended to help India by making use of Bhutan,” it said, referring to the June 30 statement issued by India’s External Affairs Ministry.
China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction for the past three weeks after a Chinese army’s construction party attempted to build a road.
Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.
“For a long time, India has been talking about international equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of others, but it has pursued hegemonic diplomacy in South Asia, seriously violating the UN Charter and undermining the basic norms of international relations,” it said.
“Through mass immigration to Sikkim, ultimately leading to control of the Sikkim parliament, India annexed Sikkim as one of its states,” it alleged.
“This incursion reflects that India fears China can quickly separate mainland India from northeast India through military means, dividing India into two pieces,” it said.
“In this case, northeast India might take the opportunity to become independent. India has interpreted China’s infrastructure construction in Tibet as having a geopolitical intention against India. India itself is unable to do the same for its northeastern part, so it is trying to stop China’s road construction,” it said.
“As for the territorial dispute between China and Bhutan, it should be resolved by both sides and India must respect Bhutan’s sovereignty,” it said.
“China can show the region and the international community or even the UN Security Council its evidence to illustrate China’s position,” it said.
Another article in the same daily said India must desist using the “Dalai Lama card” and mess up relations with China.
Referring to reports that the “Tibetan national flag,” a pro-independence symbol adopted by the Tibetan government-in-exile, was unfurled on the shores of Bangong Lake, known as Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh region, the article said the timing on the incident coincided with the standoff between the two militaries in Doklam area and whether Indian authorities instigated the political activity of Tibetan separatists to exert pressure on China
“When the Indian government attaches great importance to its relationship with China, it keeps a tight grip on anti- China political activities on its soil. However, when it is dissatisfied or has conflicts with Beijing, the Tibet card is played up. But India may overestimate the influence of Tibetan exiles,” it claimed.
(With PTI inputs)
