Understanding China’s new Land Border Law & what it means for India: The SPACE

By Jon Pebi Tato, 

China's policy of expansionism is not an unprecedented phenomenon that an Asian giant like India wouldn't know about it. Time & again the bellows of the dragon has been brewing fumes of hostility along the border region perpetuating New Delhi's governance to remain on the edge of a knife habitually and deliberately.

India has always remained firm on its stand, met high-level meetings, and conducted multiple tables of discussion with the Chinese counterpart but all these events persist in vain. The acts from the Chinese side have only proved that the dragons love the taste of violence and not peace, plainly if stated, "By its military actions, China has shown that it wants to settle the boundary with India, not through negotiations but by use of force"

The stand-off at Ghalwan valley, Dokhlam region, or other border regions has only highlighted Chinese policy of expansionism by illegal and force manner, by provoking the counterpart.

Recently the HCM of State Pema Khandu had a visit in the Tawang border regions and lauded the Jawans posted there with his bolstering speech, with regards to the recent face-off in the area.

The editor of the SPACE has solely tried to highlight the "New Border Law" of the Chinese government with immense attention to the aspirants reading the article. With the coming of the new border law by the Chinese legislature will India see a pathway to tranquility?

About the Law:

The legislature in China has recently stipulated that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable. Hence the New Border Law shall take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against and combat any act that undermines territorial sovereignty and land boundaries.

It designates the various responsibilities of the military, the State Council or Cabinet, and provincial governments in managing the security and economic issues in border areas.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) “shall carry out border duties” including “organizing drills” and “resolutely prevent, stop and combat invasion, encroachment, provocation, and other acts”.

The state shall take measures to strengthen border defence, support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such areas, encourage and support people's life and work there.

The state shall, following the principle of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation, handle land border-related affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues.

What does it mean for India?

China in recent years has been strengthening border infrastructure, including the establishment of air, rail and road networks. It also launched a bullet train in Tibet which extends up to Nyingchi, the border town close to Arunachal Pradesh.

It includes the PLA’s massing of troops in forward areas along the India border and multiple transgressions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

According to the PRINT Fellow-China Studies at The Takshashila Institution, said, “The new law is extremely important from an Indian perspective. India is one among two countries that share a disputed land boundary with the People’s Republic, and the legislation will impinge on this.”

Kewalramani, who is also author of Smokeless War: China’s Quest for Geopolitical Dominance, said Article 1 of the policy that talks about “delineation and demarcation of land borders” and Article 4, which stipulates that “sovereignty and territorial integrity” are “sacred and inviolable”, are indicative of a “tougher stance” that China will take on boundary negotiations when it comes to India.

“This is a broad legislation that deals with not just border security and development, but also management, and authorises key agencies for specific tasks. This is partly an effort to put in place legal structures, identify tasks and responsibilities and establish frameworks authorising government action,” he said.

He added that another aspect of the law — Article 10 — calls for the coordinated development of border security and economy.

“This entails strengthening border defence, supporting the economic and social development along border regions and improving public services and infrastructure in the areas. This provides a stronger legal framework and impetus for work related to border villages that have been built across Tibet,” he said.

China's Border Disputes:

China has a 22,100-kilometer land border with 14 countries. It has resolved the boundary disputes with 12 neighbours. India and Bhutan are the two countries with which China is yet to finalise the border agreements. China and Bhutan signed an MOU firming up a three-step roadmap for expediting the boundary negotiations. India-China border disputes cover 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control, the China-Bhutan dispute covers about 400 km.