The absence of a mutually agreed Line of Actual Control is the structural root of recurring India-China border tensions. Examine how LAC ambiguity enables territorial encroachment, assess the strategic implications of buffer zones, and suggest measures to advance boundary delimitation.

Question

PocketIAS · Accepted Answer

Introduction:

The absence of a mutually delineated and demarcated LAC creates competing territorial perceptions, enabling friction, coercion, and periodic crises.

Body:

LAC ambiguity allows both sides to patrol up to their “perception lines,” leading to frequent face-offs. China has leveraged this grey zone through salami slicing—incremental advances, infrastructure build-up, and obstruction of Indian patrols—to alter the status quo without overt escalation. Lack of clarity complicates rules of engagement, increases the risk of miscalculation, and weakens existing confidence-building mechanisms (e.g., 1993 and 1996 agreements), as their application depends on a shared understanding of the line.

The creation of buffer zones post-2020 disengagement has reduced immediate friction but carries strategic costs. While they serve as de-escalatory spaces, in some sectors they reportedly lie within areas previously patrolled by India, potentially restricting access and creating a de facto shift in ground positions. This can normalise loss of patrolling rights, dilute deterrence, and create asymmetries if not reciprocally enforced. Over time, such arrangements risk converting temporary tactical measures into semi-permanent strategic disadvantages.

Advancing boundary resolution requires a calibrated approach. First, both sides should prioritise exchange of maps for all sectors to move from ambiguity to clarity. Second, strengthening verification mechanisms—joint patrolling protocols, hotlines, and real-time communication—can reduce friction. Third, political engagement through Special Representatives must be revived with clear timelines. Finally, sustained infrastructure development and surveillance on the Indian side can reinforce negotiating leverage.

Conclusion:

Reducing LAC ambiguity is essential for durable peace; combining diplomatic clarity with on-ground preparedness offers the best path toward stabilising the boundary and preventing future crises.

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