Deciphering the disconnect, de-escalation and disengagement in the India-China border deal

Last update:October 24, 2024, 1:36 PM IST

China has described the border deal as a “complete disengagement of frontline troops”. India has said both countries should ensure a “gradual and gradual de-escalation in the border areas”. China’s statement, however, does not mention the word “de-escalation”.

The term “disengagement” in military parlance can be defined as the withdrawal from a stated military policy, military participation, or a military position. (PTI file photo)

India and China have reached an agreement to end a military standoff following clashes in the Galwan Valley in 2020 that strained relations between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the agreement on border patrols indicated that “the process of disengagement with China has been completed”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said both India and China have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels on the issue and confirmed that they reached a resolution on “the relevant matters about which China speaks very well.” In the future, China will work with India to implement these resolutions, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who held bilateral talks for the first time in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazak, Russia on Wednesday, “affirmed stable, predictable and friendly bilateral relations,” the ministry of The statement of Foreign Affairs (MEA) is read.

The MEA statement also said, “Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of properly managing differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility. The two leaders agreed that the Special Representatives on the issue of the India-China border will meet soon to oversee the management of peace and tranquility in the border areas and to explore a just, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the border issue.The mechanisms for dialogue relevant at the level of foreign ministers and other officials will also be used to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.”

What does disconnection, de-escalation and de-induction mean?

The term “disengagement” in military parlance can be defined as the withdrawal from a stated military policy, military involvement or, at the tactical level, a military position, according to Deepak Kumar, a researcher at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Studies and Analysis of Defence, New Delhi.

According to Hans Speier’s RAND study, disengagement has three important principles: (a) disengagement from the enemy requires bilateral action, (b) disengagement can be forced if the enemy does not pose a credible threat, and (c ) disengagement decisions can be based on the present. and future intentions.

At the strategic level, disengagement can be a phase of the conflict that lies between winning the war and ending the war. At the operational and tactical level, military disengagement denotes “disengaging” from a military action with the enemy and withdrawing forces from that battle or action. Military disengagements can be a means of allowing other elements of national power to operate, while freeing up the military for future needs.

The term “de-escalation” refers to the “spectrum of conflict”. Military de-escalation means moving from a higher spectrum to a lower spectrum of conflict. A conflict can range from the lowest pre-crisis stage and diplomatic actions to military postures, through unconventional warfare, through limited war, and beyond to conventional or nuclear war.

According to Carnegie, the term “disengagement” means when both sides agree to deploy only a certain number of troops and weapons in a certain area. It can also be defined as troops and equipment being permanently removed from the particular area.

What does disengagement mean in the India-China context

Jaishankar at an event on Monday said that there were some areas in Ladakh, which were blocked by both sides for patrolling after the 2020 clashes. The two countries have reached an agreement that allows patrolling.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, at a press conference on Tuesday evening, said the deal is aimed at the “disengagement” of troops in LAC. Misri, however, did not specify whether the agreement would mean withdrawing additional troops stationed by the two countries.

“Now, as a result of discussions that have taken place over the last few weeks, an agreement has been reached on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the border areas between India and China and this is leading to disengagement and finally a resolution of the issues arising in these areas in 2020,” he said.

A senior military official told Reuters that both sides would withdraw their troops somewhat from their current positions to avoid clashes, but would be allowed to patrol according to a schedule being worked out.

China has described the deal as a “complete disengagement of frontline troops”. Meanwhile, India has said that both countries should ensure “gradual and gradual de-escalation in the border areas”.

The de-escalation marks a return to pre-2020 patrol protocols that decrease the likelihood of skirmishes or escalation of close military encounters.

The Chinese statement, however, does not mention “de-escalation”. “We hope that India can work with China to guide public opinion in the right direction…advance bilateral exchanges…and avoid amplifying differences and complicating things to jointly maintain the overall picture of relations China-India,” China’s statement said.

what next

With the arrival of winter, the resumption of patrols will stop. Reports suggest that due to troop drawdowns, as has been the practice for the past four years, both India and China would continue to discuss full disengagement.

Patrolling at all patrol points (PPs) – mostly along the unmanned LOC – will now resume from PP10 to PP13. This is a return to the status quo before the clashes in 2020. The two sides will continue to discuss full disengagement, ThePrint say cited sources.

ThePrint also reported that “at all other places, where disengagement was achieved earlier and buffer zones were created (north banks of Pangong Tso, Galwan, Hot Springs and Gogra), patrols would resume on both sides. No however, patrolling will be carried out up to the ‘perceived LAC’.