India-China Tensions: A New Airbase in Ladakh – What's Next?

 India-China Tensions: A New Airbase in Ladakh – What's Next?

The stakes are once again sky-high as two nuclear-armed powers stare each other down. India has just inaugurated a new airbase in the Mushkoh region of Ladakh. But what comes next? Will this move escalate tensions between India and China even further? We spoke to analyst Amir Raza to get his take.

 India has inaugurated a new airbase in Ladakh's Mushkoh region. Will China respond to this?

 First off, China is already in a state of war here. And you ask if tensions will escalate further? Let's look back at history. The Sino-India War of 1962 also took place in this very region – Aksai Chin. You all know Siachen; this is the area adjacent to it, called Aksai Chin. The name itself, "Aksai Chin," suggests its connection to China, literally meaning "White Steppe of China" or "China's White/Western Sky." Historically, this area is part of China, bordering its Xinjiang province. On one side, it touches Ladakh, on another, Tibet, and on yet another, our Gilgit-Baltistan. See what a central point it is? It's considered part of the Azad Kashmir territories.

Just as we have the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan and India in Kashmir, here we have the LAC – the Line of Actual Control. If we go back to 1899, during the British era—when neither India nor Pakistan existed, but China did—negotiations between the British and Chinese led to the creation of the McDonald Line.

 The McDonald Commission declared this area as part of Xinjiang. So, what is India's claim now?

### India's 'Occupation' and the 1962 War

 When India gained independence, just as it 'occupied' Kashmir, it also 'occupied' this area, which was nestled within icy mountains. There were no armies here – not Pakistan's, not China's, not India's. So, India cunningly took control of this 38,000 square kilometer region in the Karakoram valleys, with its mountainous terrain and passes.

 

Later, in 1959, China raised the issue, stating that this was an illegal occupation of its territory. This issue was crucial because this was the route to Tibet, which China has always claimed. To go from Xinjiang to Tibet, this path had to be used. Negotiations continued until 1962, clashes began, and it eventually escalated into the Sino-India War.

Now you understand, India claims that this area comprises "Ladakh's pastures," meaning the people of Ladakh used to graze their animals here, hence it's their right. In essence, that wolf named India is constantly trying to swallow everyone else's territory. But what does that wolf say now? "You didn't drink from this water, but your father did." It's like that story of the wolf and the lamb, but this was China, not some other country.

 

So, China advanced its forces, chased them down, and occupied many areas of Aksai Chin. After '62, after that war, India occupied more than half of Aksai Chin, and the Line of Actual Control came into existence. But the problem is, India continues to fuel the unrest in the Tibet region – the unrest that troubles the Chinese, and you've heard of the Dalai Lama. India uses the same terrorism plan that was seen in Bangladesh, is in Pakistan, and in other countries around the world – Canada, and even Sri Lanka, which we discussed today.

 

### The 2020 Clashes and Chinese Encroachment

 They enter Aksai Chin with this full plan and started strengthening their outposts again. So, the Chinese, I'm talking about 2020 – in 2020, the Chinese once again 'beat them up.' You remember, the Chinese also 'beat them up' at Pangong in 2020. You recall seeing Chinese soldiers descending from the mountains and Indian soldiers fleeing, with many captured and beaten. When they were beaten at the shore of Pangong Tso Lake, footage of it was also made. Yes, that's the same lake where scenes from the movie *3 Idiots* were filmed. And it came under Chinese control. Not just that, the Galwan area is also currently under their control, as is the Hot Springs area, which was previously under Indian domination.

I mentioned the Line of Actual Control. China announced its plan to build a railway from Xinjiang to Tibet and began work on it. This railway would pass alongside Ladakh, crossing the Line of Actual Control. India, presuming that Ladakh might also fall under China's shadow, increased its troop presence there. China issued a warning, but India started building an airbase. The airbase you mentioned saw a C-130 land, carrying Air Chief AP Singh, who then inaugurated the new airbase. This base is merely 30 kilometers from the areas under Chinese control. What happened is that the Chinese are swiftly progressing on their railway project from Xinjiang to Tibet.

### China's Military Might and Global Power

 China has already built the G-219 Highway, despite India's historical objections. Now it's building the railway. So, they had to inaugurate the airbase. When India started work on the airbase, the Chinese bolstered their air force in their own areas. You and I saw a video where Chinese J-20s and J-10Cs were seen flying together. Yes, absolutely, that was in the Xinjiang region, their adjacent area. The Chinese are very concerned about this airbase. They have not only increased their outposts but have also started stocking them with ammunition.

So, as you said in the beginning, two atomic powers are facing each other – one is China, which is a true atomic power, and if we look at it militarily, it is currently the world's number one power. That is to say, China is currently the world's leading power. It has cut America down to size and shaken Russia to its core. Warfare is a different issue. You should also talk about space warfare sometime, because these are very frightening signs that Russia and China have already worked on the 'Battlefield in Space.' They've already done it.

 So, China is absolutely ready to 'beat them up' again. India is instigating this. Amir Raza, from what you're saying, it sounds like: "Go ahead and build your airbase; we'll just take it over after a while anyway."

 Support this idea. Look, China has always claimed the Ladakh area. I don't think such things happen. Yes, you're absolutely right.

### The LAC, India's Preparation, and the Future

Tell me, why does India often talk about the Line of Control but not the Line of Actual Control? And many of these so-called Indian 'experts' also say that under the 1899 McDonald Line agreement, the British gave these areas and valleys to China. Their own people did this. What is its importance to *us*? This is also your question, why is it important to us?

 Look, it borders Gilgit-Baltistan, doesn't it? It's adjacent to India's Jammu & Kashmir and is part of the Kashmir region. It's not a separate area. And China's presence here is just like Pakistan's presence in that area. So, India is now preparing for a beating. If not today, then tomorrow, or the day after, it will begin. I've told you the areas they've already occupied. They've taken that lake, they've taken other areas, and by building the railway track, they'll probably take all of Ladakh too.

Absolutely. Thank you very much,  has explained this region to you in great detail, and also predicted that the airbase built by India will, *Inshallah* (God willing),