Recently the PLA (People’s liberation Army) has attempted a road construction on Doklam Plateau which is a disputed area between Bhutan and China but it is also along the border area of Bharat.
Not only Bharat is obliged to protect the interest of Bhutan by a treaty obligation but it has its own security concern and hence the border standoff. If the road construction goes ahead as attempted, the PLA could have a strategic strangle hold on the narrow strip of land which links Assam and other North-eastern states with the rest of Bharat.
The PLA in recent years has also created artificial islands with air strips etc. in the international waters of North China Sea at the annoyance of several countries including the USA. These military adventures and the New Silk Road as well as the OBOR in Europe and Asia and other projects in Africa are to show China’s desire to project itself as a super power in par with the USA.
Let us hope that New Delhi and Thimphu deal the current issue with a firm determination to solve it diplomatically but at the same time be prepared to face the menace so that 1962 Nehru fiasco (created by Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai and Panchsheel delusion) does not occur again.
Narsibhai Patel
New Malden
