China’s new border law came into effect with the commencement of the new year. As per the new policy, China is going to build villages around the line of actual control. These villages will facilitate not just civilian purposes but for military bases too. Due to revised border law, it is quite likely for India to tackle more challenges in the coming days, especially on the northern side of the country.
On December 30, 2021, China made some changes to its map which now includes localities from Arunachal Pradesh with different names. The map also describes regions in Ladakh and Barahoti Plains in Uttarakhand as China’s sovereign territory. Although this move has been criticized by the Indian government and international community.
It is worth remarking that the new changes are not particular to India. In total, the Chinese border law comprises 62 articles inside 7 additional chapters. Under these rules, China needs to install boundary markers to clearly define the boundaries. It also deals with measures that countries must take to strengthen their defenses. The new law talks about social and economic development in multiple ways.
Without a doubt, China’s new border law will affect India pretty much directly and in some cases indirectly. In the past years, India and even China have increased their activity near the line of actual control by building bridges, roadways, and so on to expand the reach of their militaries. China’s new law entrusts all authority in the hands of Chinese authority only in matters related to rivers inside their borders which could encompass neighbors. The neighboring states won’t have a say in their decision.
Communities have diverse opinions on China’s new steps. Some believe that new rules will cause the communist regime to dig in its heels in the present standoff or maybe a bigger dispute. On the other hand, a lot of observers see the new law as an example of a simple manipulatory tool. China shares around 23,000 kilometers of its boundaries with countries like India, Russia, Mongolia, and many more. That’s why changes in the Chinese policy are likely to raise concerns for countries other than India as well.
