The study is largely from Chinese description of events.It does give an insight into thought process of Chinese leadership. The depiction of events or sequence may not be accurate from Indian perspective.
The moral stand of Indian position is never in doubt.
The failure of forward policy was in not ensuring adequate intelligence about chinese designs and asses their strength/weaknesses.Without equipping army with means to carry out its objectives.
It is not surprising that India failed to know the existence of xinxiang road built by chinese in Aksai chin.Years later , we failed to know occupation of peaks by Pakis which finally led to Kargil.
Indian infrastructure is so poor in NE that any quick deployment of large scale force would stretch our limits. Even than , do we have sufficient force as of now to be deployed. No doubt India is trying to remedy this situation yet when we reach the force level required currently by 2020, China might have leapfrogged. So force requirement projection would have to take into account what would be chinene strength deployable on Indo-china border.
From Art of War
(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued
with the Moral law? India
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability? well you decide
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven Heaven-India, earth-China
and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? I would think that both armies are disciplined
(5) Which army is stronger? Should I say China
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? I think both
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy
both in reward and punishment? No data to decide either way.
I don't believe that Forward policy was the cause of chinese aggresion.It was merely an accelerating factor or excuse. Chinese had intended to teach India a lesson on Tibet so that 30 years of peace can be on the border. That thirty years have passed and another showdown may be looming in future unless we talk from strength.
In Xu Yan's
characterization of the thinking of China’s leaders: "If we strike, we must strike in a big
fashion, moreover wage a war of extermination, resolutely hit the wolf and make it hurt
(da lang da tong). Only in this way can we completely destroy his aggression and cause
the aggressors to receive their proper punishment. Moreover, we can guarantee that for a
long time to come [the aggressors] will not dare to come again to conduct aggression
against China's borders."
This has not changed till date. 2010 is the year of tiger for chinese and they are already rubbing a lot of shoulder wrong way.
Chinese would act on the basis of what they think or what they think Indians believe and not necessarily
on what we actually believe. So if peacemakers prescription is accepted, it would only be counterproductive.
Boundary dispute should be settled but without abandoning our stand and negotiate from a position of strength.