Ameya Joshi asked : What can India do or is doing to stop Chinese incursions into Ladakh / Uttarakhand? What is China's motive behind these incursions?

Prashant Kumar Singh replies: The Government of India's position on Chinese incursions has been that there is a difference of perception between the two sides about where the border is. Incursions essentially result due to these differing perceptions. In addition to this, it can be argued that building military infrastructure up to the border by the two sides may also be causing incursions. Saying more than this about Chinese motives behind incursions is anybody's inference or conjuncture. Nothing can be said conclusively about this issue.

The Government of India has been pressing for the demarcation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), though Chinese response has not been very forthcoming. Demarcation of LAC could be a step towards the resolution of the border dispute in the long run. It may also help in resolving the chronic problem of allegations and counter-allegations of incursions in the short-term. The two sides have taken various confidence building measures to deal with this issue from time to time. The Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) signed in 2013 is the latest example in this regard.

Posted on September 01, 2016