BEIJING – India officially divided its state of Jammu and Kashmir Thursdayinto two new union territories to be ruled directly by the centralgovernment in New Delhi. The so-called Union Territories of Jammu andKashmir, and of Ladakh have placed part of Chinese territory under India’sadministration, triggering new border disputes with China. How will thisIndia’s unilateral move affect China-India ties? How will it influenceregional stability and security? Two experts shared their views on theseissues with the Global Times.
*Lan Jianxue, expert on South Asia at the China Institute of InternationalStudies*China firmly opposes India’s move of placing part of Chineseterritory under Indian administration.
New Delhi on August 5 proposed to revoke the special status ofIndia-controlled Kashmir. About three months later, the state of Jammu andKashmir has lost its autonomy and been divided into two federallyadministered territories. The move aims to permanently change the status ofKashmir by giving India control of the entire region that it does notwholly possess.
Despite being denounced for its unilateral and hegemonic move to change theautonomous status of India-controlled Kashmir, India has taken its owncourse and thus escalated tensions in the region – India-Pakistan ties havecome to a very dangerous point due to their long-held conflicts while a newborder dispute could be ignited between India and China.
New Delhi’s move is in line with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’saggressive approach on territories and sovereignty. Under currentinternational circumstances, with India’s rise, many countries are tryingto draw New Delhi to their side, leading to a more aggressive Indian stanceon territorial disputes with neighboring countries.
India’s unilateral move has infringed China’s sovereignty. According toIndian Home Ministry’s notification on Saturday detailing the boundaries ofthe two newly created union territories, the “Union Territory of Ladakh”includes China’s Aksai Chin, which has undoubtedly been part of China’sterritory. India’s deliberate decision will expand China-India territorialrows, create fresh frictions and complicate their border disputes.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had an informal meeting with Indian PrimeMinister Narendra Modi in the southern Indian city of Chennai in October.The creation of the two new union territories has undermined the momentumof China-India relations.
Not recognizing legitimacy of the “Union Territory of Ladakh,” China mayreinforce its defense at borders with India, will firmly safeguard itssovereignty and territories and enhance communication with Pakistan andjointly oppose India’s move that breaks the status quo.
India’s unilateral move will hurt its own interests and those of others.Pakistan and India’s diplomatic ties have been severely affected sinceAugust and the tensions will be more strained after India’s officialestablishment of the two union territories.
*Zhao Gancheng, research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for InternationalStudies*Placing China’s Aksai Chin into the “Union Territory of Ladakh”shows India’s intent to change the China-India border status. China wouldnot admit it and has firmly opposed India’s move that would damage peaceand stability in the region.
However, China is maintaining a low profile on the issue. India’s ForeignMinistry pledged to China in August that India won’t create new sovereigntyclaims and won’t change the Line of Control in the Kashmir region and won’tchange the control line on the China-India border.
India believes Ladakh is not a part of Kashmir so it will have disputesabout Kashmir only with Pakistan after Ladakh is separated as another unionterritory. But we cannot predict how this move will affect China-Indiaties.
Modi wants to rewrite history by bowing to the country’s nationalistsentiments by taking away Muslim’s special rights in the state. RevokingKashmir’s autonomous status will somewhat benefit India’s development, butit will possibly lead to peace and tranquility being undermined in theregion. This will in turn harm the interests of India’s neighbors and alsoinfringe on interests of Indian people.