Did you realise why we claimed 'our' territory in Lipulekh on the border with Nepal a few days back? Read further to understand China’s game.

Indian Army's recent move of claiming Lipulekh on the border with Nepal was a national and strategic necessity, failing which, we would have lost it--- it was in the pipeline of being 'gifted' to China by Nepal.

Same is the case with Doklam and Bhutan. The Chinese are always playing mischief there. Had it not been for the Indian Army, Nepal would have physically occupied it a long time ago or it would have been 'gifted' to China.

 Representative image 

China's eye on Himalayan 'tri-junctions'

There are a total of 4 important tri-junctions on the 4056 km long Indo-China border. A 'tri-junction' is a small area where the borders of three countries meet. This territory is militarily vulnerable.

These 'tri-junctions' are through the Himalayan entrance. Which are in such a strategic position that the country which will take control of all these four tri-junctions will prevail in this tough Himalayan battlefield.  Because their geographical location provides tremendous leverage to the military. These tri-junctions are as follows-

1. Siachen Glacier
2. Kalapani / Lipulekh Pass
3. Doklam
4. Diphu Pass

Fortunately, 4 of these 4 tri-junctions are under Indian rule. Naturally, the Chinese dragon has a crooked eye. So it is important to know the strategic importance of all these tri-junctions.

1. Siachen Glacier 

India-Pakistan-China border only

It is available at Siachen Tri-Junction covering an area of ​​76 sq. Km.  Siachen is located at an altitude of 20,000 feet in the Karakoram range of Ladakh. Siachen is the world's 'highest battlefield', also known as the third pole of the earth.  With temperatures of -60 and avalanches, Siachen is the most difficult battlefield.  Siachen was captured by the Indian Army in 1984 through Operation Meghdoot.  In retaliation, Pakistan imposed the Kargil war on India in 1999, but in the end, India won.

13 Apr 1984. Operation Meghdoot was launched to capture the Siachen Glacier in the Kashmir region. This operation was unique as it was the first assault launched in the world's highest battlefield. Watch https://t.co/hWo9YNEDJK pic.twitter.com/VqXLofaE9P

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 28, 2018

Siachen's strategic importance to India

🔸 Siachen does not establish contact between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and China-occupied Aksai Chin.  India can keep an eye on PoK and Aksai Chin at the same time.

🔸 If India loses Siachen, Pakistan will occupy Ladakh from the west and China from the east.

🔸 If Siachen goes out of hand, Ladakh will go out of hand.  If you go to Ladakh, you will lose Kargil.  If you go to Kargil, NH 1 will be lost.  If NH 1 goes out of hand, Jammu and Kashmir will lose contact with India.  As a result, India will have to lose the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh.

🔸 Also, if India wants to take over POK tomorrow, it is not possible without Siachen.

If Kashmir is to be saved and POK is to be recaptured, this 76 sq km piece of Siachen Glacier will play a very important role.  Therefore, India cannot afford to deviate even an inch from the Siachen tri-junction.

2. Kalapani / Lipulekh Pass

The Indo-Nepal-China border meets the Kalapani tri-junction, which is currently under discussion.  This is because Nepal, at the behest of China, has illegally claimed the 397 sq km 'Tri-junction' of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Lymphiyadura, which are under Indian control.

Strategic Significance of Kalapani / Lipulekh Pass

🔸 The Kalapani / Lipulekh Pass is the most important and sensitive of the four tri-junctions in terms of India's security.

🔸 Lipulekh Tri-junction is at an altitude of 17,000 feet.  This pass connects Uttarakhand with Tibet.  Lipulekh Pass is a 'forward commanding post'.  From here, India can monitor China's military movements.

🔸 India has built an all-weather strong road for pilgrims on Kailash-Mansarovar directly to Lipulekh.  Also, Indian troops will be able to strike directly at the Chinese border in a very short time.

🔸 If India deploys state-of-the-art helicopters like Apache and Chinook in this area, they will not even need an airbase or runway.  Chinook helicopters and M777 Howitzer guns can also carry.  In this way, India can respond to any Chinese adventure.

🔸 If the Kalapani / Lipulekh pass is lost to India, a very frightening situation could befall India.  Because the distance from the entry point of Lipulekh to the capital Delhi is only 416 km.  If the inscription goes into Chinese possession, the capital Delhi will come under the range of Chinese bombers.  Also, the Chinese army can reach the capital in 24 to 48 hours.

🔸 If other tri-junctions are taken over by China, perhaps only Kashmir or Northeast India can be taken over by China, but if the inscription is swallowed by China, the country's capital could be threatened.  Seeing such a direct threat to the capital, India is now rapidly building military infrastructure to strengthen its grip on the Lipulekh tri-junction area.

3. Doklam

The Indo-Bhutan-China border meets at the tri-junction 'Doka-la'.  Doklam is like that in Bhutan, but India has control over Doklam as it is responsible for Bhutan's defense.

The strategic importance of Doklam 

🔸 India's 'Siliguri Corridor' is very close to Tibet's 'Chumbi-Valley'.  This corridor is only 22 km wide, which connects the whole of North-East India with the rest of India.  It is also called India's 'Chicken-Neck'.

🔸 China's grand plan is to withdraw troops from Tibet's 'Chumbi Valley' and take control of Doka-la Tri-Junction directly.  Moving on from there, it can capture the Siliguri corridor and a total of 2.6 lakh sq. Km. including eight states. To cut off the whole of North East India from the rest of India. But as long as the 'Doklam Plateau' is under Indian control, China's plan can never be fulfilled. Because Doklam is at an altitude of 15,000 feet, India is in a commanding position. From here, India can keep an eye on Chinese movements in the Chumbi Valley.

🔸 If Doklam gets out of hand, all the eight states of the North East could fall into the throat of the Chinese dragon.  So India can never leave Doklam.

4.  Diphu Pass

The Indo-Myanmar-China border meets at Diphu Pass.  At the end point of the McMahon Line is the Diphu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.  The Diphu Pass is an entry point for Northeast India from Myanmar.

Strategic significance of Diphu Pass

🔸 China calls Arunachal Pradesh 'South Tibet' and always claims it illegally.  But Arunachal Pradesh's border with Tibet is extremely remote and covered with high peaks.  This remote Arunachal Pradesh serves as a protective wall for the rest of the plain North East states.

🔸 Military invasion from Arunachal is very unfavorable for China. So China's strategy is to bypass the remote region of Arunachal to enter India.

🔸 It is easy for China to capture the Diphu Pass and divert troops to remote Arunachal Pradesh and infiltrate the plains of Assam.  After that, China's intention is to cut off the North East from mainland India and swallow one state after another.

🔸 If Diphu Pass gets out of hand, the whole of Northeast India is in danger of falling into the throat of China.  So India is getting stronger and stronger on the Diphu Pass.

If we look back over the last five years, we can see that there is a special pattern behind China's aggression.

Wherever these four important tri-junctions are, this is where the sly China tries to infiltrate its troops into India.  All four of these tri-junctions want to do anything for China. Because China knows that it is impossible to gain dominance in the Himalayan battlefield without it. It is at these four tri-junctions that China repeatedly infiltrates and uses psychological pressure against India.  In other words, China is testing India's military readiness and morale.

 Representative image 

In 2017, China created military tensions in Doklam.  But India did not leave an inch of space. Eventually, the Chinese troops had to retreat.

In 2020, China will simultaneously open the front lines in India's two adjoining tri-junctions, Lipulekh and Ladakh.  But India has first straightened Nepal out of pressure, while deploying Bofors and other heavy military equipment in Ladakh has given China a firm grip on retreat.  Here too, China will have to burn incense.

Seeing the same pattern, in the near future, China may show aggression at Doklam, Lipulekh, Ladakh and then at Diphu Pass.

The main reason for China's unrest is that India is rapidly building military infrastructure along the Chinese border as well as in these four tri-junction areas.  India has already built 75% of the strong all weather border road.

Currently, in the wake of the Ladakh tensions, India has run 11 special trains and sent 12,000 workers to the Chinese border to complete the remaining infrastructure immediately.  Also in Assam, Chamba Tunnel has been constructed near Bogiebill Bridge, LAC.  In addition, permanent airbases, temporary landing strips and helipads are being constructed on the battlefield for the Air Force.