Source: News X
Speaking to News X, Carnegie-Tsinghua’s Lora Saalman detailed the Chinese rationale behind the three-week Ladakhi border stand-off between China and India. Saalman stated that Beijing does not consider its troop movements an incursion into India since the Line of Actual Control remains undefined. While instead declaring the maneuver a tactical move, she noted that, despite the spike in tensions, China views its territorial disputes in the East and South China Sea as “much more pressing.”
From a political standpoint, Saalman discussed how Beijing has advocated for new mechanisms and for stronger strategic bilateral discussions. She noted that the Chinese recognize the potential for small incidents to escalate quickly and derail political and economic relations. Saalman concluded by noting that the incident may initiate “healthy discourse between the two countries.”