‘Imposing Political Costs On China Works Better Than Militarising LAC’

NEW DELHI: A year after the Galwan clash distrust between India and China has resulted in both sides have increased troop presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. That means India needs acclimatized reserves, the financial implications of which may be difficult to sustain over a long period of time, says Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma (Retd), former commander of 14 Corps. Speaking to StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, Gen. Sharma said India needs to revisit doctrines of the past and prepare itself for a new character of war. Arzan Tarapore, South Asia Research Scholar at Stanford University, who joined in the conversation, said China may be better positioned to absorb the financial costs of maintaining an increased military presence along the LAC but India would do well to impose political costs on China.