India-China Lt General-level dialogue will reduce border friction
Even though both sides are tight-lipped about military dialogue, it is quite evident that the dates for General level dialogue will be set after Tianjin meet.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit at Tianjin on August 31-September 1, the two countries will move further towards normalization of ties including Lt Gen level Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) in three sectors and resumption of air services.
While the next logical step towards bilateral normalization of ties includes resumption of military to military ties as a confidence building measure, the decision to hold Lt General-Major General level dialogue between Indian Army and PLA in Chushul, Nathu La and Kibuthoo or Yangtze in western, middle and eastern sector is a big move in that direction. As of now, the only general level dialogue takes place between 14th Corps Commander and Sinkiang Military Division commander in Chushul in Eastern Ladakh. The decision to upgrade military dialogue on the border to General level was taken in the 24th round of Special Representative talks on August 19.
Even though both sides are tight-lipped about the military dialogue, it is quite evident that the dates for General level dialogue will be set after Tianjin bilateral meeting between the two leaders. “ If six rounds of dialogue take place between apex military formation commanders in a year, then chances are that all LAC friction issues get sorted out on ground in real time. And if the border remains peace and tranquil, then there is no reason why the bilateral ties take an upswing between the two Asian giants,” said a China expert.
The India-China normalization is coming at a time when both countries are being pushed by US President Donald Trump on trade tariffs. While India is expected to be hit by 25 per cent additional tariff on August 27, taking the total tariffs to 50 per cent, China has already been hit by 54 per cent tariff with US President giving a 90 day reprieve on additional tariffs.
During the meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on August 19, US was the elephant in the room as both ministers felt that their countries were being unfairly targeted by US and hence there was a need for India and China to come close to each other to protect their markets.
While India understands the limits to convergence with China, US, by weaponizing tariffs and making India as a villain of piece for Ukraine war, has clawed out any illusion about bonhomie with Washington in the minds of Indian political leadership and the masses. By putting another 25 per cent tariff on August 27, US Trump administration will ensure that the bilateral ties will definitely turn cold if not frozen.
