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The India-China border dispute has been subject of much debate, discussion, and analysis ever since the Sino-Indian war of 1962. However, the developments on the India-China border in the Western Sector in April 2013 brought to the fore the sensitivities of the border dispute between India and China which remains unresolved till today. This paper seeks to look into the implications of the transgressions/incursions in the Daulat Beg Oldi sector,1 and elaborate on the sensitivities, insecurities and problems of the local population. It also attempts to provide the local perspective of the Ladakhis settled along the LAC.2
The events unfolded on the night of 15 April 2013 when the Chinese troops entered 19 kms deep into the Indian territory of Burtse (in Daulat Beg Oldi). They erected a tented post there and set the stage for a faceoff with the Indian troops nearby. Responding to the reports of a Chinese incursion, the Indian Foreign Ministry acknowledged that both sides were in touch through diplomatic channels established to diffuse border flare ups. India did seek to play down the incident of the Chinese camping in Burtse, and agreed that it was a face-to face situation but was localised in nature and that the tension should be resolved through existing mechanisms agreed to by both sides. Officials in the Indian government were of the view that such an incident had taken place due to the difference in perception of the LAC.3 The first flag meeting was held on 18 April 2013 in Chushul,4 where the Indian army commander raised the issue of the intrusion with the Chinese who reportedly responded claiming that they are camping on their own territory. The meeting eventually ended in deadlock. From then on till 23 April 2013 three flag meetings took place. The third flag meeting ended again without achieving a proper consensus. The Chinese asked India to dismantle its infrastructure developed in Eastern Ladakh which includes some newly-constructed bunkers at key vantage points and roads constructed close to the Indian perception of the Line of Actual Control.5 The Chinese officers through the means of 'banner drill' as they call it conveyed to the Indian ITBP personnel to 'go back and not to come back'. Sources in the Ministry of External...