%3Cstrong%3EWinters%20Hits%20Chinaman%3C/strong%3E

As%20the%20icy%20winds%20hit%20the%20battlegrounds%20in%20Ladakh%2C%20the%20Hans%20dominated%20Chinese%20feel%20the%20heat%20of%20Super%20High%20Altitude%20warfare.%20Having%20been%20humbled%20in%20their%20misadventure%20in%20Ladakh%20by%20the%20resolute%20and%20courageous%20Indian%20response%20in%20summers%2C%26nbsp%3B%20they%20face%20the%20other%20equally%20unforgiving%20and%20underestimated%20foe%u2026%u2026%20%u2018The%20Winter%u2019.%20%3Cstrong%3EAn%20honourable%20exit%20from%20a%20dishonourable%20Himalayan%20disposition%20under%20the%20global%20glare%20is%20crumbling%20their%20centennial%20goal%20and%20haunting%20the%20Chinese%20dream%20with%20a%20Himalayan%20nightmare.%3C/strong%3E%20Thus%20for%20a%20country%20held%20hostage%20by%20a%20venomous%20ideology%2C%20coercive%20diplomacy%20and%20a%20Xitlerist%20political%20dispensation%2C%20building%20a%20narrative%20foundational%20on%20lies%20seems%20oxygen%20for%20its%20chocked%20global%20and%20domestic%20image.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EDriven%20to%20the%20back%20and%20its%20teeth%20blunted%2C%20the%20only%20option%20thus%20remains%20is%20to%20gain%20psychological%20ascendancy%20and%20seek%20an%20honourable%20winter%20exit.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E

%3Cstrong%3EChinese%20Lies%20and%20the%20Phantom%3C/strong%3E

The%20traditional%20response%20to%20the%20adverse%20situation%20in%20Ladakh%20lies%20in%20the%20Chinese%20traditional%20three%20warfare%20strategy%20-%20legal%2C%20media%20and%20phycological%20warfare%20to%20conceal%20the%20truth%20and%20create%20a%20Phantom%20in%20disguise.%20It%20is%20thus%20not%20surprising%20that%20the%20Chinese%20establishment%20has%20recently%20unleashed%20fantasies%20of%20Drone%20Warfare%2C%20Microwave%20Weapons%20and%20such%20fallacies%2C%20de-facto%20exposing%20the%20deteriorating%20mental%20and%20physical%20conditioning%20of%20their%20soldier%20on%20the%20ground.%20The%20timing%20is%20also%20well-tuned%20when%20negotiations%20both%20at%20the%20military%20and%20diplomatic%20level%20are%20on%20to%20address%20the%20winter%20impasse.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EUnfortunately%2C%20Chinese%20psychological%20warfare%20from%20an%20advertisement%20campaign%20blinds%20no%20one%20from%20the%20truth%2C%20instead%2C%20it%20boomerangs%20and%20exposes%20their%20own%20cold%20feet%20to%20face%20the%20brave%20and%20resolute%20Indian%20soldier%20during%20winters%3C/strong%3E.%3C/i%3E%20Chinese%20have%20excelled%20in%20the%20art%20of%20telling%20lies%2C%20be%20it%20the%20recent%20Wuhan%20Virus%2C%20Indo%20Pacific%20or%20the%20Himalayas.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3ENothing%20can%20be%20more%20apt%20than%20the%20Chinese%20dictum%20%u2026%u2026%u201D%20Lie%2C%20Lie%20and%20Lie%20until%20you%20start%20believing%20it%20to%20be%20the%20truth%u201D.%20%3C/strong%3EThe%20%3Cstrong%3EIndian%20security%20establishment%20would%20thus%20do%20well%20to%20rubbish%20such%20malicious%20lies%20and%20the%20three%20warfare%20strategy%20by%20a%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%3Cstrong%3E%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3Eresolute%20Three%20C%20Strategy%20-%20Capability%20Building%20of%20Defence%20Forces%2C%20Credibility%20of%20National%20Resolve%20and%20Strategic%20Communication%20of%20Intent.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%3Cstrong%3E%20%3C/strong%3EThe%20opportunity%20created%20from%20adversity%20by%20the%20blood%2C%20valour%20and%20courage%20of%20the%20brave%20Indian%20Soldier%20thus%20must%20not%20be%20lost%20by%20a%20myopic%20vision%20as%20in%20the%20past%20but%20leveraged%20by%20a%20visionary%20policy%20approach%20for%20lasting%20peace%20in%20the%20Himalayas.

%3Cstrong%3ELessons%20from%20Ladakh%3C/strong%3E

The%20eight%20months%20old%20Himalayan%20impasse%20has%20taught%20a%20few%20lessons%20both%20to%20the%20Indian%20and%20Chinese%20security%20apparatus%20who%20will%20do%20well%20to%20learn.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndia%20must%20realise%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EChina%20under%20Xi%20and%20its%20middle%20kingdom%20mentality%20cannot%20be%20trusted.%20There%20is%20a%20difference%20in%20what%20China%20says%2C%20knows%20and%20does.%20They%20believe%20in%20mixed%20messaging%20with%20the%20ambiguity%20between%20what%20they%20preach%20and%20practice.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20They%20initiate%20a%20standoff%2C%20show%20aggression%2C%20pass%20on%20the%20blame%2C%20lure%20the%20opponent%20into%20complacency%20to%20retain%20the%20gain%20and%20strike%20back%20another%20day%20yet%20again.%20This%20is%20the%20Chinese%20vicious%20cycle%20of%20strategic%20coercion%20and%20revisionist%20culture%20well%20documented%20in%20India%20China%20border%20standoffs%20since%20independence.%20Thus%20dealing%20with%20Chinese%20has%20its%20dynamics%20and%20we%20must%20not%20yet%20again%20fall%20prey%20to%20their%20nefarious%20design.%20China%2C%20in%20turn%2C%20would%20do%20also%20well%20to%20shed%20the%20cloak%20of%20imaging%20India%20through%20the%20lens%20of%201962%20and%20wake%20up%20to%20the%20reality%20of%2021st%20Century%20India%20and%20its%20resolve%20cum%20capability%20which%20has%20repeatedly%20embarrassed%20them%20at%20Nathula%2067%2C%20Dokhlam%202017%20and%20now%20Ladakh%202020.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EGlobally%20India%20is%20the%20only%20country%20which%20has%20upfront%20confronted%20and%20contained%20China%20militarily%20denying%20it%20the%20notion%20of%20victory%20or%20application%20of%20coercion%20as%20a%20strategic%20tool.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E

Strategically%2C%20as%20security%20partnerships%20evolve%20centred%20around%20Chinese%20belligerence%2C%20prudence%20will%20lie%20in%20age-old%20realpolitik%20%u201CThere%20are%20no%20permanent%20enemies%2C%20and%20no%20permanent%20friends%2C%20only%20permanent%20interests%u201D.%20Balancing%20foreign%20policy%20linkages%20and%20security%20partnerships%20must%20not%20create%20dependencies%20or%20polarities%20which%20impinge%20upon%20strategic%20autonomy%20but%20must%20be%20based%20on%20long%20term%20vision%20and%20furtherance%20of%20national%20interest.%20Equally%20important%20is%20as%20India%u2019s%20influence%20and%20reach%20extends%20globally%2C%20the%20immediate%20neighbourhood%20must%20not%20be%20in%20the%20defilade%20zone%20nor%20must%20the%20time%20tested%20all-weather%20relationships%20be%20overlooked.%20Balancing%20multilateral%20and%20bilateral%20relationships%20could%20act%20as%20additional%20pressure%20points%20to%20deter%20the%20Chinese%20belligerence%20but%20finally%2C%20it%20will%20be%20the%20nation%u2019s%20fight.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EStrategic%20flexibility%20and%20strategic%20stability%20thus%20need%20a%20fine%20balance%20with%20a%20visionary%20strategic%20security%20calculus.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E

%26nbsp%3BMilitarily%2C%20only%20a%20secure%20and%20strong%20nation%20will%20be%20respected%20and%20can%20pave%20the%20path%20to%20its%20domestic%2C%20regional%20and%20global%20aspirations.%20It%20essentially%20entails%20empowering%20the%20defence%20forces%20for%20future%20threats%20and%20desired%20capabilities%20both%20the%20man%20and%20his%20machine.%20Equally%20important%20is%20a%20visionary%20higher%20military%20leadership%20which%20is%20organization-centric%20and%20undiluted%20by%20polity%20or%20overambition.%20Unfortunately%2C%20the%20nation%20and%20its%20security%20decision-making%20apparatus%20have%20failed%20in%20providing%20the%20desired%20budgetary%20support%2C%20modernization%20outcomes%20and%20sensitivity%20to%20the%20soldier%20welfare%20aspirations.%20Tactically%20blood%2C%20guts%20and%20valour%20of%20our%20brave%20soldier%20and%20his%20indomitable%20spirit%20of%20selfless%20supreme%20sacrifice%20have%20repeatedly%20been%20the%20saviour%20for%20the%20nation.%20The%20wise%20advice%20of%20Chanakya%20to%20Chandra%20Gupta%20Maurya%20%u201CThe%20day%20a%20soldier%20has%20to%20demand%20his%20dues%20will%20be%20a%20sad%20day%20for%20Magadha.%20From%20then%20on%20you%20have%20lost%20all%20moral%20sanctions%20to%20be%20king%u201D%2C%20must%20not%20be%20lost%20sight.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EOperationally%20border%20area%20infrastructure%20development%2C%20defence%20modernisation%20and%20technology%20induction%20including%20areas%20such%20as%20cyber%2C%20space%2C%20AI%20and%20C5ISR%20must%20be%20expedited.%20Ironically%20we%20continue%20to%20be%20strategically%20and%20operationally%20surprised%20and%20caught%20off%20guard%20repeatedly%20since%20independence%2C%20reacting%20to%20situations%20and%20scrambling%20for%20emergency%20procurements.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20We%20must%20fight%20future%20wars%20with%20next-generation%20technology%20ideally%20based%20on%20indigenous%20solutions%20and%20not%20to%20fall%20into%20the%20trap%20of%20preparing%20to%20fight%20the%20last%20war.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3ESelf-sufficiency%20and%20capability%20enhancement%20must%20seek%20higher%20priority%20than%20the%20evolving%20self-reliance%2C%20to%20judiciously%20balance%20risks%20and%20vulnerabilities.%20With%20the%20Chinese%20its%20goodbye%20till%20we%20meet%20again%20and%20we%20must%20address%20all%20vulnerabilities%20in%20the%20interim%20period%20expeditiously.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E

Politically%20and%20diplomatically%2C%20the%20leadership%20must%20stand%20firm%20against%20any%20Chinese%20ruse.%20China%20must%20be%20denied%20both%20physical%20and%20psychological%20ascendancy.%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3EThe%20Chinese%20ploy%20of%20selective%20status%20quo%20on%20heights%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3Enorth%20and%20south%20of%20Pangong%20Tso%2C%20while%20maintaining%20dumb%20silence%20over%20the%20Depsang%20plains%20and%20Y%20junction%20is%20disconcerting.%20Similarly%20suggesting%20buffer%20zones%20within%20Indian%20perception%20of%20LAC%20must%20be%20rubbished.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20Having%20gained%20a%20strategic%20advantage%20over%20the%20Kailash%20range%2C%20India%20must%20use%20it%20for%20the%20furtherance%20of%20its%20foreign%20policy%20goals.%20Even%20reversion%20to%20pre%20-%20Apr%2020%20positions%20must%20be%20caveated%20with%20an%20institutionalized%20and%20time-sensitive%20road%20map%20for%20resolution%20of%20LAC%20dispute%20backed%20by%20real-time%20monitoring%20mechanisms.%20Militarily%2C%20the%20impasse%20may%20seem%20stalemated%20but%20strategically%20China%20has%20been%20embarrassed%20by%20denying%20it%20the%20notion%20of%20victory.%20This%20hurts%20when%20its%20global%20image%20is%20already%20taking%20a%20beating.%20China%20thus%20seeks%20face-saving%20de-escalation%20and%20disengagement%20albeit%20on%20its%20terms.%20This%20must%20be%20denied%20politically%20and%20must%20be%20seen%20holistically%20with%20a%20long%20term%20vision%20aimed%20at%20the%20finalisation%20of%20LAC%20alignment.

%3Cstrong%3ETo%20Conclude%u2026%u2026%3C/strong%3E

The%20Ladakh%20impasse%20has%20entered%20its%20eighth%20month.%20India%20would%20do%20well%20to%20leverage%20the%20LAC%20negotiations%20to%20its%20advantage%20under%20the%20present%20geostrategic%20environment.%20Protracted%20deployment%20has%20military%20and%20financial%20stresses%20for%20both%20nations%20but%20national%20interests%20at%20this%20strategic%20opportune%20time%20must%20not%20be%20compromised%20for%20short%20term%20political%20gains.%20The%20prudence%20of%20treading%20the%20difficult%20and%20measured%20path%20for%20lasting%20peace%20must%20not%20give%20way%20to%20the%20haste%20of%20treading%20the%20easier%20path%20for%20temporary%20calm.%20The%20credibility%20of%20the%20polity%20and%20diplomacy%20is%20under%20test%20for%20a%20strong%20backbone%20which%20must%20not%20be%20replaced%20by%20a%20political%20wishbone.%20The%20military%20has%20repeatedly%20proved%20its%20worth%20and%20provided%20the%20polity%20with%20strategic%20leverage%20only%20to%20be%20frittered%20away%20as%20in%20the%20past.%20It%20must%20not%20be%20lost%20now.%20While%20Chinese%20draw%20the%20attention%20to%20winter%20solutions%20India%20will%20do%20well%20to%20see%20the%20security%20canvas%20much%20beyond.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23India%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Bq4MmUPrXF8p%22%20href%3D%22/topic/india%22%3E%23India%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23China%22%20data-user-id%3D%22gtTvlJMpH5eQ%22%20href%3D%22/topic/china%22%3E%23China%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23IndoChinaBorder%22%20data-user-id%3D%22hubTyDbVSRvO%22%20href%3D%22/topic/indo-china-border%22%3E%23IndoChinaBorder%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Ladakh%22%20data-user-id%3D%22hF9jmFvo2VZi%22%20href%3D%22/topic/ladakh%22%3E%23Ladakh%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23XiJinping%22%20data-user-id%3D%22fQb9DPApQrvw%22%20href%3D%22/topic/xi-jinping%22%3E%23XiJinping%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B