Differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control explained

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.^[1] For many decades India and China carried forward the differing perceptions theory.

India has called this as one of the causes for the loss of Indian territory to China's salami slicing.^{[2] [3]} The existence of areas of differing perceptions resulted in "overlapping areas of influence, extending from a few hundred meters to tens of kilometers" and was "one of the reasons for Chinese to enhance their transgressions in Ladakh".^[4]

Overview

Written in the Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement, 1993: "When necessary, the two sides shall jointly check and determine the segments of the line of actual control where they have different views as to its alignment".^[5] This phrase, "differences on the alignment", also finds mention in the 1996 agreement. Further the 1996 agreement uses the phrase "different perceptions":^[6] In the backdrop of the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh, used the phrase in a Lok Sabha statement, "...both (India, China) have different perceptions of LAC";^{[7] [8]} in the Rajya Sabha, "there is no common perception of the entire LAC", "there are some areas where the Chinese and Indian perceptions of LAC overlap".^[9] A Chinese foreign ministry statement in September 2020 stated that "China-India border LAC is very clear, that is the LAC on November 7, 1959. China announced it in the 1950s".^[10] In 2003 Asaphila as an area of differing perception was called out in the Parliament.^[11]

Confidence building measures, clarification mechanisms, peace and tranquility building measures have been agreed upon by both countries to deal with the tensions arising from the areas of differing perceptions. According to commentators, the number of areas of differing perceptions range from 12 to 18 locations^[12] to no perceptional differences.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Joshi. Manoj. 8 June 2020. Indo-China row signals breakdown of confidence building measures. live. 2021-02-27. ORF. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20200616135607/https://www.orfonline.org/research/indo-china-row-signals-breakdown-of-confidence-building-measures-67469/ . 2020-06-16 .
2. Web site: Srivastava. Niraj. 24 June 2020. Galwan Valley clash with China shows that India has discarded the 'differing perceptions' theory. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200624030211/https://scroll.in/article/965477/galwan-valley-clash-with-china-shows-that-india-has-discarded-the-differing-perceptions-theory . 2020-06-24 . 2020-11-08. Scroll.in. en-US.
3. News: Krishnan. Ananth. 2020-05-24. What explains the India-China border flare-up?. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-11-08. 0971-751X.
4. Web site: Bedi. Lt Gen (Retd.) AS. 4 June 2020. India-China Standoff : Contracting Options in Ladakh. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201110201235/https://www.vifindia.org/print/7586?slide=$slideshow$ . 2020-11-10 . 2020-11-08. www.vifindia.org.
5. Web site: 1993. PA-X: Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609180826/https://www.peaceagreements.org/view/286 . 2020-06-09 . 2021-02-16. Peace Agreements Database. The University of Edinburgh.
6. Web site: 29 November 1996. Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas. live. 15 March 2021. Peace Agreements Database. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029095307/http://peacemaker.un.org:80/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/CN%20IN_961129_Agreement%20between%20China%20and%20India.pdf . 2013-10-29 .
7. Web site: 15 September 2020. Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha: India, China have different perceptions of LAC. live. 2021-03-15. The Times of India. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20201219135830/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-china-have-different-perceptions-of-lac-rajnath-says-in-lok-sabha-key-points/articleshow/78124095.cms . 2020-12-19 .
8. Web site: 15 September 2020. China disrupted traditional patrolling pattern of Indian troops in Galwan Valley causing face-off conditions: Rajnath. 2021-03-15. ANI News. en.
9. Web site: 17 September 2020. Text of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh Statement in Rajya Sabha on September 17. 2021-03-15. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
10. Web site: Patranobis. Sutirtho. 2020-09-29. China takes 1959 line on perception of LAC. live. 2021-03-15. Hindustan Times. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929023455/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-takes-1959-line-on-perception-of-lac/story-ciMDJjOeTLuvyvsNy7gJXI.html . 2020-09-29 .
11. Web site: Lok Sabha Debates: Regarding Transgression Of Line Of Actual Control By Chinese Forces... on 25 July, 2003. 15 March 2021. Indian Kanoon.
12. Claude Arpi (2016). The Case of Demchok. via— claudearpi.net. "the case of Demchok which is a case study of Chinese 'advances' which resulted in what today is called a ‘difference of perceptions’ on the LAC. [...] It is not only in Demchok, but in 11 other places, also that India’s and China’s views differ.[...]"
13. Web site: Mahalingam. Brig V.. 18 August 2014. China: Differing Perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC): A Hoax?. live. 2021-03-15. Center For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20201227165438/https://www.claws.in/publication/china-differing-perceptions-about-the-line-of-actual-control-lac-a-hoax/ . 2020-12-27 .