China Study Group

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The China Study Group (CSG) of the Government of India is an informal official group set up for advising the government on its China policy. It is a confidential body made up of inter-ministerial secretary-level officials. [lower-alpha 1] [3] [4] Set up by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs under the Indira Gandhi government in November 1975, it was first headed by diplomat K.R. Narayanan (later President of India). [3] It has been under the charge of civil servants such as Brajesh Mishra and Ajit Doval. [3]

Contents

History

Shivshankar Menon wrote in his book "Choices": [5]

In 1976, on the basis of the much better information regarding the border available to India, the Cabinet Committee for Political Affairs established the China Study Group under the foreign secretary to recommend revised patrolling limits, rules of engagement, and the pattern of Indian presence along the border with China

China Study Group has a key structural role in the ongoing 2020 China–India skirmishes. [6]

Patrolling Points (PPs) for Indian troops along the China–India border were defined by the China Study Group in the 1970s. [7] [8]

Members

In 2020, the CSG was headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. CSG members include: [3] [9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Not to be confused with the formation of the 1969 China Study Group, "comprising an informal group of scholars from universities and think-tanks". The group was responsible for India's first China journal, China Report. The group expanded into the Institute of Chinese Studies. [1] Giri Deshingkar was one of the founders. [2]

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Beginning on 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border, including near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and near the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Additional clashes also took place at locations in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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This is a timeline of events that stretches over the period of the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.

Differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control

Differing perceptions or areas of differing perceptions was a theory to explain why border conflicts have arisen between China and India, since the Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement, 1993 has been signed. It maintains that the two sides have different perception of where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the territories of the two countries lies. Further, the Chinese have their own understanding of where the Indians perceive their LAC to be, and vice versa. For many decades India and China carried forward the differing perceptions theory.

Depsang Bulge Disputed area between China and India in Aksai Chin

The Depsang Bulge or Burtsa Bulge is a 900 square kilometre area of mountain terrain in the disputed Aksai Chin region, which was conceded to India by China in 1960 but remains under Chinese occupation since the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The area is immediately to the south of Depsang Plains and encloses the basin of the Raki Nala, a stream originating in the Aksai Chin region and flowing west to merge with the Depsang Nala near the village of Burtsa in Ladakh, eventually draining into the Shyok River. The area is perceived to be of strategic importance to both the countries, sandwiched by strategic roads linking border outposts. Since 2013, China has made attempts to push the Line of Actual Control further west into the Indian territory, threatening India's strategic road.

The Chinese order of battle in the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.

Indian order of battle during the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes:

References

  1. ↑ Alamgir, Jalal (2008-11-07). India's Open-Economy Policy: Globalism, Rivalry, Continuity. Routledge. p. 88. ISBN   978-1-135-97057-4.
  2. ↑ "Giri Deshingkar Memorial Lecture". Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dutta, Amrita Nayak (2020-07-18). "China Study Group, the elite Indian govt body that guides policy on ties with Beijing". ThePrint. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  4. ↑ Sawhney, Pravin; Wahab, Ghazala (2019-05-10). "Breathing Fire: China has always kept India on tenterhooks" . Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  5. ↑ Subramanian, Nirupama; Kaushik, Krishn (2020-09-20). "Month before standoff, China blocked 5 patrol points in Depsang". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  6. ↑ Gupta, Shishir (2020-07-16). "Apex China Study Group reviews East Ladakh: Key stand-off points record withdrawal". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  7. ↑ Singh, Sushant (2020-07-13). "Patrolling Points: What do these markers on the LAC signify?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  8. ↑ "India-China LAC Standoff: Know what are patrolling points and what do they signify". The Financial Express. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  9. ↑ Sagar, Pradip R (15 July 2020). "Govt's China Study Group set to discuss future course of action on eastern Ladakh". The Week. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
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