How India Should Tailor Its Next Military Moves
India’s redlines must be clearly communicated to China’s leadership, and these should include the risks of any further transgressions along the LAC. Maybe this is already being done in the meetings that are taking place, and if that is the case, the message should not be diluted by either obfuscation or chest-thumping in the media.
Finally, we come to the issue of credibility, which is perhaps the hardest to achieve. It is primarily a commitment to clearly stated redlines and a demonstrated resolve to carry it through. Capability and communication are of little use if there if the opponent perceives a lack of resolve by the defender in making good his threats.
This would imply a strengthening of its military posture to respond to PLA actions and an acceptance to raise the stakes, if required.
All this is not to suggest that there is only a punitive component to deterrence. Thomas C Schelling, who pioneered the study of conflict…