Dangerous Escalation in Ladakh

An attempt by China to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh has been thwarted by the Indian Army. Pre-emptive action by Indian troops to the south of Pangong Tso has foiled Chinese designs in the midst of a stalled disengagement process.

“A new normal has been made. It’s a show of intent that India has the political will and the military capability to pre-empt any unilateral action by the China to change the status quo on the LAC, Col. S Dinny (Retd), former Commanding Officer of Pangong Tso battalion, told StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale. In the super high altitudes of Ladakh where Indian troops are equipped better for the long haul, it’s suicidal for the Chinese to come and bang their heads against the mountains, he said.

This was an attempt by China to check the alertness of Indian troops, said Atul Aneja, senior journalist who has reported from China for years. While he doesn’t think China will not go for a short war that will have limited gains, he says India should increase the pressure points in the Indian Ocean Region.