What China Actually Wants From Ladakh?
The year 2019 came with the reorganization of the areas of Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Anantnag, Baramulla, Poonch, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad under the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
India got its independence in the year 1947 and it was a legal act. The UK parliament passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 following the norms of the emerging of a new world.
The former state of Jammu and Kashmir became an integral part of Indian Constitution after an instrument of accession which was signed by then ruler of J&K.
With having two neighboring countries that are Pakistan and China who did not intend to respect this legal proceeding. Pakistan invaded the Independence just after three months, which later led to the creation of the Islamic nation.
China began constructing a road through Aksai Chin in the northeastern part of Ladakh which led to so many conflicts between the two nations.
This road is now named NH 219, this was constructed as a gravel pavement that China made in the mid 1950s. After this, China kept expanding its presence in Aksai Chin. Indian leadership at that time was not in favour of military retaliation.
The position of Indian boundaries as they existed were negotiated after the British rule got over in India. This was the official position that China has accepted on its official maps.
China banks on the boundary line which was proposed in 1899 was never approved to claim Aksai Chin. It also has a 1918 map which was not published and showed Aksai Chin as its own. The fact remains that the British as Indian rulers who were controlling the Aksai Chin as a part of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the year 1947, Jammu and Kashmir had 14 districts which were Kathua, Leh and Ladakh, Udhampur, Gilgit, Anantnag, Baramulla, Poonch, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Jammu, Reasi, Gilgit Wazarat, Tribal Territory and Chilhas.
The year 2019 came with the reorganization of the areas of Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Anantnag, Baramulla, Poonch, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad under the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, China has been posing aggressively foiling what it believes is India's "aggressive design" to get back the whole control of Ladakh and Pakistan-occupied territories.
China has a fear about the India¡¯s emphasis on infrastructure building which are near the LOC - Line of Control and LAC- Line of Actual Control in both J&K and Ladakh, that they are some long term military strategy.
In the simple terms, China does not want India to claim the territories that its friend Pakistan could occupy through invasion. Pakistan after gaining control of Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat and adjoining territories, Pakistan named it as Gilgit-Baltistan.
But China has been making moves over the last six decades based on changing perceptions about new strategic points in the local geography.
The new face offs between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan Valley, Pangong, Tso, Demchok emerge from the same Chinese thinking that India is constructing near LAC are somewhat a position in the region, which is something that the as a country China does not prefer.
India recognises the Chinese claim on Aksai Chin and other points which includes areas of Pangong Tso. This is where the soldiers from the two sides exchanged a blow in the month of May.