The Hindu Editorial (Focus on the borders) – May 01, 2023

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The Hindu Editorial (Focus on the borders) – May 01, 2023:

stalemate (noun) – deadlock, impasse, standstill/stand-off.
lingering (adjective) – long-drawn-out, protracted, prolonged, persisting, continuing.
unpredictability (noun) – uncertainty, precariousness, unreliability, instability, volatility.
Line of Actual Control (LAC) (noun) – the de-facto (effective) border between India and China. The LAC is a 4,057-km border running through three areas-Western (Ladakh, Ladakh (Kashmir)), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).
counterpart (noun) – someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another; equivalent, equal, fellow.
violation (noun) – breach, contravention, infringement, breaking, non-observance.
erode (verb) – (gradually) undermine, weaken, spoil, deteriorate, destroy.
bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
serve as (verb) – ac as, function as.
assessment (noun) – evaluation, analysis, examination, appraisal.
ail (verb) – trouble, bother, beset, afflict, worry.
talks (noun) – dialogue, discussion, discourse, debate, negotiation, deliberation, consultation.
on the sidelines (phrase) – it refers to a meeting/forum occurs at the same time as the scheduled meeting/forum, but is not itself an item on the agenda.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (noun) – The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China). The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and is seen as a counterweight to NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization). It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
reiterate (verb) – repeat, say again, restate.
stand (noun) – position, viewpoint, stance, perspective, approach.
a meeting of minds (phrase) – consensus, cooperation, coming together, good will.
underline (phrase) – highlight, underscore, emphasize, stress, draw attention to, point up.
ties (noun) – association, relationship, bond, connection.
premise on (verb) – base something on.
on the other hand (phrase) – as an alternative.
call on (phrasal verb) – ask, request, urge, demand.
divergence (noun) – deviation, departure, dissimilarity.
predicate on/upon (phrasal verb) – base, be dependent, establish, found, premise.
normalcy (noun) – a normal condition; normality, regularity.
disengagement (noun) – withdrawal, departure, retreat (of military troops from an area of conflict).
friction point (noun) – area in conflict; friction area.
de-escalation (noun) – reduction, lessening, decrease (the intensity of something).
eventual (adjective) – concluding, resulting, consequent, subsequent.
de-induction (noun) – an act of moving out of troops deployed from an area of conflict.
deploy (verb) – position, place, locate, situate.
forward area (noun) – an area in proximity to combat.
decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
tortuous (adjective) – complicated, complex, confusing, overlong, lengthy.
buffer zone (noun) – neutral area.
disengage (verb) – withdraw, pull out, leave, move out, retreat.
friction (noun) – disagreement, disunity, conflict, dispute, argument.
friction points/friction areas (noun) – areas in conflict; points of Chinese ingress into hitherto India-controlled territory in Ladakh. These ‘friction points’ are Depsang, Galwan, Hot Springs, Gogra, North bank of Pangong Tso, Kailash Range and Demchok.
drag one’s feet (phrase) – delay, procrastinate, postpone action, put off doing something, use delaying tactics, take one’s time.
momentum (noun) – the increase in the rate of growth/development of something; strength, impetus.
Corps (noun) – it literally means “army body”; The corps is treated as an operational unit of employment by the Army and can be comprised of 20,000-45,000 soldiers. It is sometimes known as a field corps, which consists of two or more divisions. It is commanded by the Corps Commander, who holds the rank of Lieutenant General. “Corps” was first introduced in France about 1805 by Napoleon as a more flexible tactical grouping of two or more divisions.
yield (verb) – give, provide, bring in, generate, produce.
stark (adjective) – clear, distinct, evident, obvious, striking.
move forward (phrasal verb) – proceed, advance, improve.
far-off (adjective) – remote, faraway, outlying.
prospect (noun) – chance, possibility, expectation, likelihood.
the new normal (phrase) – an earlier unusual situation that becomes a standard now.
deployment (noun) – the act of employing forces/troops into effective action.
proximity (noun) – nearness, presence, closeness.
race (noun) – contest, competition.
infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.
be here to stay (phrase) – to be permanent; to be generally accepted; to be present for a long time.
regardless of (preposition) – despite, in spite of, notwithstanding.
downplay (verb) – downgrade, play down, minimize, de-emphasize, put down.
relegate (verb) – downgrade, lower, assign a less important position to.
recurrence (noun) – repetition, reoccurrence, reappearance, reemergence, .
clash (noun) – fight, conflict, skirmish, confrontation.
under the shadow of (phrase) – in danger of something.