CHINA-INDIA: COMMENT ON PRIME MINISTER MODI'S VISIT TO LADAKH

i) China's popular social media platform Baidu on July 3 carried the following post: On June 30, China and India held more than 12 hours of army commander-level talks. The third round of talks reached a consensus that the two parties organized a batch of front-line troops to "disengage" and the talks have made positive progress. However, only a few days have passed since the talks and Indian Prime Minister Modi suddenly appeared at the Sino-Indian conflict. What major signals does this send out? On the afternoon of July 3, "India Today" reported that Modi had arrived in Ladakh and is currently inspecting and communicating with personnel of the Indian Army, Air Force and Border Police Force at the 11,000-foot forward post. After that, he may also speak to the 14th Army Corps officials (the third round of talks was attended by the commander of the 14th Indian Army), and meet with soldiers injured in the conflict in the Galwan Valley. It was a visit that surprised the outside world. In fact, when leaders of a country visit frontier positions, it is seen as a posture to mobilize for the upcoming war. Since the provocation failed in the Galwan Valley, Indian nationalist sentiment has risen unprecedentedly. From Modi to the Indian military and people, the cry to avenge the 20 soldiers who died during the clash on 16 June has increased. The people also accused the Indian government of not being tough on the Chinese. To pacify the rising domestic voices, the Indian army began to continuously increase its military power to the Ladakh region, along with high-level military officials paying a visit to Ladakh. On the 28th, Modi also gave a national speech, but one of the main discussions was how to deal with the crisis, other than asking to push ‘Made in India’. India is facing the pressures of the epidemic and combat pressure from Pakistan, Nepal and other countries. India is using this clash as a means to divert attention. From voices of boycott to buying weapons and high-level visits in Ladakh, India is trying everything. 

ii) "CNR National Defense Space and Time" reported in the afternoon that a brigade air defense battalion of the Tibet Military Region was training in an unfamiliar field at an altitude of 4,700 meters, and rushed towards the "predetermined battlefield" on the snowy plateau hundreds of kilometres away".

iii) Reacting to Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ladakh on July 3, the Global Times (July 3) cited a Chinese analyst's comment that "Modi's visit to the China-India border to interact with troops was aimed at diverting public attention from his government's incompetence in its coronavirus response and the country's slumping economy". Noting that this was the first visit of India's Cabinet Committee on Security to the region after the clash, it quoted the spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian as saying (July 3) that China and India are engaging in dialogue on easing the situation through military and diplomatic channels, and neither side should take any action that may complicate the border situation. Qian Feng, the Director of the Research Department of the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, told the Global Times (July 3) that Modi attempted to show that he was a "strongman" on national security issues to soften criticism against him and shift public attention from his government's incompetence in the coronavirus response, and economic slowdown. He said Modi could learn about the preparations and deployment of the frontline and make preparations for the next step, adding that the move also served to show China and the international community that India is firm in its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty, although India is willing to ease the situation through a bilateral mechanism and dialogue, Qian said. 






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