1962 India-China war redeux? — M. K. Bhadrakumar

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Mike Norman
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M. K. Bhadrakumar puts the blame squarely on the Indian elite for creating a threat to China that the Chinese would quite reasonably evaluate as real, with a predictable reaction forthcoming. Part of this threat is the recent rapprochement with the US militarily. but that is not all.

This is the best analysis of the situation and the issues I have seen so far.

India Punchline
1962 India-China war redeux?
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service

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Both sides have agreed to not use guns along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. The soldiers used clubs and stones to fight each other during the night on a mountain ridge at 4,000 meter (14,000ft) height above the steep canyon of a very cold river. Apparently many of the dead fell off the ridge down into the river and died of hypothermia.

The U.S. and Australia have verbally supported India during the recent clashes. But neither seems inclined to become involved in an actual conflict.

The Sino-Indian war of 1962 started over similar border skirmishes and also with a larger strategic background. Within a few days China took several areas from India but after a month it pulled back from Indian territory. The idea had been to teach India a lesson and the point had been made.

Should the conflict escalate I expect a similar short and limited conflict as a reminder to Modi that a non-neutral alignment and claims on foreign territory do carry certain costs.

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Why The Chinese-Indian Skirmishes May Escalate

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