Dealing With China: Lessons from Galwan Clash, Five Years on | WN24

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Jun 20, 2025 15:14 IST

First Published on: Jun 20, 2025 at 15:14 IST

Just over five years ago, The Galwan Clash Between India and China Saw 20 Indian and four Chinese Soldiers Killed. This year is also the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between The Two Countries. The bilateral relationship has been full of surprises and turmoil. It appears that India and china, two of the livest countries, economies and militaries, who are a disputed and unresolved border, do not undertand each other.

The Violent Clash of June 2020 was the first Such Incident Since 1975 These were the achieved after long and painstaking discussions, primarily to avoid any violence on the lac. However, in the words of Indian external affairs minister s jaishankar, “So there was a class, and a number of troops died on Eather side, and this has been, in a sense, overshadowed the relashesheep. Peace and tranquillity on the border and encourse signed up to are adhered to, it’s obviously different to carry on with the rest of the relationship “.

But Can India Trust China to Adhere to Any Agreements Now?

The long freeze between the neighbors after the 1962 war revisited in 1988 with the “Normalisation” of Ties and Efforts was put in place to avoid a similar challenge. During Rajiv Gandhi’s Visit that year to beijing, deng xiaoping said, “We have both made mistakes and we can learn from Each Other. MUCH We Achieve We Can Achieve By Being Antagonists “. There was Positive Momentum after the visit and both sides engaged in an increasing economic relationship (bilateral trade stands at around $ 118 billion). There was a lot of talk about cooperation. However, what has continued to be the driving factor is mistrust.

Since 1988, there have been multiple stand-offs at the border, the most intense being in doklam in 2017-both armies stood eye to eye for 73 intense days. What complicates the situation further is that bot countries are nuclear powerhouses and have advanced militaries. And both are vying to grow their global influence.

The Galwan class underscored the fragility of the relationship. It has almost four-and-a-half years and multiple rounds of bilateral talks at variable levels to achieve a breakthrough. In October 2024, it was announted that India and china has agreed on patrolling rights in the ladakh region. Foreign Vikram Misri Said: “Agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the line of actual control (LAC) in the India-China border earas, leading to disorder of a resolution of a resolution. Areas in 2020 and we will be taking the next steps on this. ” Howver, it appears that disease will be a long process.

China appears keen to discuss restarting the people-to-peeple and economic engagement. After Galwan, India Banned Several Chinese Apps and Stopped Major Chinese Investments and Direct Flights. After the thaw, china has been keen to restart direct flights. It has issued around 85,000 Visas and has resumed the kailash mansarovar yatra for indians.

On the other hand, India has continued to reiterate that no significant developments can be achieved if the border is unresolved. Galwan is a major recent reminder of what the border is capable of doing. It can push the countries as well as the region Into Uncertainty. India has continued to focus on building capabilities in the border region and development infrastructure that can help in the property management and movement of travels and equipment. The most prominent of these is the All-wisher sela tunnel in Arunachal Predesh.

Even After Years of Positive Statements and Shows of Bonhomie, The Neighbors Appear to Be Just talking at Each Other. The talks of people-to-peeple interaction by china and the fact that India Continues to re reiterate the centrality of the border for a genuine stable relationship to exist shows the gap in perception and understanding. This gap needs to be bridged sooner Rather than later.

For beijing, when it comes to its relations with new delhi, it is economic dynamics that matter. New Delhi, However, Should Not Forget The Lessons from Galwan and Ignore the Fragility of Diplomatic Measures, which can clearly be Ignored and Trampled By China.

The Writer is Associate Professor, OP Jindal Global University