Sikkim stand-off: How can India counter China's coercive diplomacy

India needs its own strategy of 'active defence' in the Indian ocean to counter the Chinese threat

This article first appeared on Business Standard on July 10, 2017

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Recent events on the Doklam plateau near the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China have resulted in plenty of discussion among Indian analysts. The better among these have pointed out Doklam’s limited tactical value to China and the latter’s clear contravention of prior agreements to preserve the territorial status quo with Bhutan. Why then have PLA troops and their political masters risked a potential conflict on such weak grounds? As Ajai Shukla notes, “Beijing’s wish to extend the Chumbi Valley southwards is incomprehensible.” Understanding how this episode