India has expressed serious concern over the Chinese new move to convert two new countiess—Hean and Hekang—in the Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, including part of Aksai Chin in north-eastern Ladakh. India has described the move as unlawful and reiterated through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that it in no way compromises the region's sovereignty to India.
India’s Stance
India has vociferously objected to these steps, and once again conveyed its stand on sovereignty of Aksai Chin and the potential effects of the proposed Brahmaputra dam downstream.
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Protest Against the Inclusion of Aksai Chin:
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Diplomatic Protest: India filed a demarche with the Chinese authorities and strongly denied China’s sovereignty over Aksai Chin.
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Sovereignty Assertion: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that reorganization of territories does not legalize occupation, especially by China.
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Concerns Over the Brahmaputra Dam:
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Environmental and Strategic Risks: The $137 billion dam project has generated various risks to the downstream states, for instance, ecological shifts and patterns of water flow.
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India’s Lower Riparian Rights: India has thus explicitly brought home to China that despite the construction of these downstream states should not be endangered by such mega-projects.
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Historical background of the territory on dispute between India and China known as Aksai Chin
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Disputed Region: Aksai Chin is occupied by China since 1950s, but is claimed by India and marked as a part of India on Indian maps.
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1962 War: This area was centre of activity during the Indo–China war and it has much significance at tactful level.
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Recent Border Standoffs: These are conditions that constantly fuel boundary issues, such as at Depsang Plains and other areas.
Geographical Impact
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Transition of territory and Change in the characteristics of bilateral relations
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Undermining Boundary Talks: The Chinese action occurs barely few years after the China and Pakistan have resumed the boundary talks and defeats the very purpose.
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Regional Stability: The China’s gambit to install new Dalai Lama is a strategic planning to strengthen its position in Himalayan region which raises tensions.
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Brahmaputra Dam and its downstream consequence
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Ecological Concerns: The site of the dam falls in the delicate Himalayan region which has instigated concerns of flood risks along with disruption of the water life in Arunachal Pradesh along with Assam.
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Water Security: Chinese control over the Tsangpo River significantly provides it strategic advantage and a veto over the Indus water, which threatens the water security of India.
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India’s Diplomatic and Strategic Possibilities
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Strengthening Bilateral Mechanisms:
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Suggest better utilization of existing forums such as the Expert-Level Mechanism on transboundary rivers between India and China to solve water distribution problems.
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Demand of compliance with international standards of evaluation under the UN Watercourses Convention despite the fact that China is not a party to this convention.
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Building Strategic Alliances:
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Turn to regional and global counterparts that should help balance the aggression of China’s actions.
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Indeed, the predictability and reliability of China ties would be well served by strengthening relations with these two riparian neighbours, both impacted by Chinese upstream development.
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Enhancing Domestic Preparedness:
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Contribute to hydrological structures and systems in order to be able to measure the river flows and control the effects it brings downstream.
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Foster construction activities in the region of Ladakh to strengthen geographical sovereignty of the country.
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Conclusion
Activities such as China’s claim over Aksai Chin and the construction plan of the Brahmaputra dam are therefore indicative of the increasing problem areas evident in the bilateral India-China relationship. For this purpose, India have to carry on bilateral and multilateral diplomatic protests, regional cooperation and national planning and preparation to defend it sovereign rights and environmental integrity. To solve these problems there must be constant communication supported by a deep commitment to the protection of national interests but also by the desire of finding diplomatic solutions.
