The stalemate caused between India and China in Ladakh seems to become
more complex with every passing day due to rigid posture adopted by
China. In a latest development ,the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress, China’s ceremonial but top legislative body, has
passed a new land law for the ‘protection and exploitation of the
country’s land border areas’ which will come into effect from 1
January, state media Xinhua reported.
Asserting that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are
‘sacred and inviolable’, the country’s national legislature adopted
the new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border
areas, which could have a bearing on Beijing’s border dispute with
India. The law, which becomes operational from 1 January next year,
stipulates that ‘the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable.’
The law is not meant specifically for the border with India; however,
the 3,488-km boundary remains disputed, and some experts feel it could
create further hurdles in the resolution of the 17-month-long military
standoff. Others think the law is just words — what has vexed ties is
not domestic Chinese legislation, but their actions on the ground.
According to the new law, ‘the state shall take effective measures to
strengthen border defence construction, support the economic and
social development of the border and open up to the outside world,
promote the action of strengthening the border and enriching the
people of the border, improve the level of border public services and
infrastructure construction, improve the production and living
conditions of the border, and encourage and support border residents
in border production and life, and promote the coordinated development
of border defence construction and border economy and society’.
India on Wednesday hit out at China for its ‘unilateral’ decision to
bring about a new land border law and said it is a matter of concern
as the legislation can have implications on the existing bilateral
pacts on border management and on the overall boundary question.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India
expects that China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of
the law that could unilaterally alter the situation in the India-China
border areas. He said such a ‘unilateral move’ will have no bearing on
the arrangements that both sides have already reached earlier — be it
on the boundary question or for maintaining peace and tranquillity
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). While protecting one’s land is
important, expansionism can’t be accepted.
