The Doklam stand-off has ended and both India and China have earned equal bragging rights that they ‘stood up’ to each other. How this happy end was achieved, we have little idea since the Government was sparing with details. Without that it is only conjecture on what might have transpired behind closed doors that saw both countries climbing down but generously allowing the other to claim ‘victory’.

Have we given in on some demand of the Chinese? Maybe we agreed to rein in the Dalai Lama — after a respectable gap of a few months? Or allow Chinese submarines safe passage into Sri Lanka? Or join the OBOR initiative after some assurances? Or ease restrictions for Chinese companies? Who knows? We’ll have to wait for a couple of years before the truth comes out after one of the participants has an attack of conscience.

When the Cuban missile crisis took place in 1962 and there was a real possibility of nuclear conflict, then US president John F Kennedy was lionised for having heroically ‘saved’ mankind by standing up to Russian pressure. Many years later it emerged that there was a secret quid pro quo between the two sides. The US had agreed to remove its Jupiter missiles from Turkey in exchange for Russian withdrawal of missiles from Cuba. That was, however, done in secret so the mythology of US victory was carefully built.

It is worth recalling that little bit of forgotten history since there are many who are now crowing that India has won this round and beaten the Chinese. Before we crow, let us ask what we gave in return. And also remember that a humiliated adversary who is no pushover will only wait for a better opportunity to strike again. After all they too have long memories. We’ll have to make sure that this ‘victory’ is not pyrrhic.

Associate Editor

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