As the new year rolls in, China’s new law on the land border is coming into effect. While the nation’s actions have always been aggressive, is it time for India to worry about its borders? Read to know all about China’s border law.
What is China’s border law?
On October 23, 2021, China passed a new law that came to effect on January 1. China’s National People’s Congress’s standing committee passed a law for the ‘protection and exploitation of the country’s land border areas’. And, according to Xinhua, the state media, “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of… China are sacred and inviolable”. They are taking measures “to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against and combat any act that undermines [these]”.
Hence, the law is mandating to take measures and “strengthen border defense, support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such areas, encourage and support people’s life and work there, and promote coordination between border defense and social, economic development in border areas”.
China’s border law asks the state to follow “equality, mutual trust, and friendly consultation, handle land border-related affairs with neighboring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues,” according to a Xinhua report.
Does the new law affect India?
While the law is not specifically meant for India, India will be facing some of its impacts. After all, the two neighbors share a 3,488 km long boundary, riddled with disputes. This is the third-largest boundary shared by China, following Russia and Mongolia among its Titian of 22,457km long national boundary. Among its 14 neighbors, China’s disputes are only with India and Bhutan.
The law passed at a time when border disputes in eastern Ladakh were unresolved. Additionally, China was also renaming several areas in Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state. There is also suspicion pointing to the fact that China may further stall negotiations. China also did not agree on disengaging from Patrolling Point 15 in Hot Springs. Additionally, China is blocking India’s troops from accessing PP10, PP11, PP11A, PP12, and PP13, all Indian traditional patrolling limits. The area also has some “civilian’s” pitching tents on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control.
The final verdict on the law is divided as they depend on the further actions taken by China. However, experts believe China’s border law is a new way for them to go digging their heels into the Indian border. “Beijing appears to be signaling a determination to resolve the border disputes on its preferred terms. The law sets an overall tone of resolve upfront,” quoted a Brookings Article. “The Chinese are indicating that they are tired of trying to resolve the boundary or the LAC through negotiations; they’re indicating they’ll do it through use of force,” said Gautam Bambawale. Bambawale was India’s ambassador to China in 2017-18. Additionally, he has a lot of experience in handling matters with the nation.