The India-China border disputes date all the way back to the early twentieth century, when the British colonial rulers drew the “McMahon Line” as the boundary between India and Tibet.
Jakarta, IO – The India-China border disputes date lower back to the early Twentieth Century, when the British colonial rulers drew the McMahon Line as the boundary demarcating India and Tibet. However, China never accepted this boundary, and claims vast swathes of territory in the eastern sector of the border, including Arunachal Pradesh.
On the western front, there may be the Aksai Chin area, which is claimed by India but occupied by China. Despite a couple of rounds of negotiations and agreements, including the 1996 Agreement at the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility alongside the LAC, the border disputes stay unresolved and continue to be a source of hysteria among the two giants.
The latest escalation in tensions started out in the Covid year of 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops clashed within the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The violent clashes led to casualties on each side, and brought about a major escalation, at a time when the whole world was busy with the first wave of the deadly virus. Since then, both sides have deployed hundreds of troops along the LAC, leading to an anxious and volatile scenario in the vicinity.
The implications of the border disputes and the current trends on India’s foreign coverage are reach far into the past. India has historically pursued a policy of “non-alignment” and “strategic autonomy”, with most important powers, while at the same time safeguarding its national frontiers.
The India-China border disputes have additionally highlighted the strategic importance of the Himalayan location and the need for India to strengthen its military prowess and defensive infrastructure along the border. In reaction to China’s developing assertiveness, India has stepped up its border infrastructure improvement and army deployments in Ladakh and other touchy regions, alongside the LAC. For instance, in terms of building roads, India’s Border Road Organization (BRO) has completed 330 projects at a cost of ₹8,737 crore, over the last three years.
Maintaining a channel of communication, both sides hold numerous rounds of commander-level meetings, the latest one being a 21st round, taking place on 19th February 2024 at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point, concluding with a hope and statement that the two sides are “…committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the ground” and wanted “mutually-accepted resolutions of remaining issues”. But one major question appears at this point – “Is a ‘mutual’ solution really possible, when China ‘unilaterally’ violated all the norms?” We have also seen China’s move of unilaterally changing the names of places that belongs to India, objecting to Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Although the two countries are trying to balance out their strategies and counter strategies, it is for India to appraise the situation from a different perspective. In May, 2024 we came across a report which highlighted the Chinese strategy of building a road in “Shaksgam Valley”. This Chinese physical occupation could potentially threaten Indian defenses along the Siachen Glaciers. If China has access there, then twin threats on “Siachen” in South “state-in-amess” Pakistan and in the North “the dragon”.
Recently, another media report informed us that “China has completed the construction of a 400-meter bridge, connecting the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso.” This can be seen as a concern for the Indian side, as these actions fortify communication channels.
The recent standoff has also underscored the significance of bolstering security cooperation with nations like Japan, Australia, and Vietnam, which heighten India’s concerns about China’s rising strength and assertiveness in the vicinity. At the same time, India’s focus is in strengthening the idea of “free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific” with groupings like QUAD.
Despite the border disputes and periodic tensions, India and China have additionally sought to deepen their financial and change ties through the years. China is now India’s biggest trading companion, with $118.4 billion in two-way trade. But there are areas of concerns in economics as well: the trade imbalance the two countries. For the record, in 2024 India has the highest trade deficit with China. India’s exports to China in 2023-24 stood at $16.65 billion, while imports were $101.75 billion. As a result, the trade deficit is over $85 billion.
However, the monetary courting has been marred by the aid of change imbalances, market entry issues, and worries about Chinese investments in crucial sectors of the Indian economy. To counter that in recent years, India has sought to diversify its financial and strategic partnerships to reduce its dependence on China and enhance its strategic autonomy. The authorities’ ‘Make in India’ initiative or its new updated version of “Atma-Nirbhar Bharat” to draw overseas investments in key sectors like defense, infrastructure, and other areas are aimed at decreasing reliance on Chinese imports and promoting self-reliance in important sectors of the economic system. India has additionally bolstered its partnerships with nations like Japan, Australia, and the USA, via tasks like the Quad and the Indo-Pacific strategy, to mitigate China’s developing impact within the region.
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The manner forward in resolving the India-China border disputes lies in a complete and sustained communication system that addresses the middle issues of contention and builds mutual consideration and self-assurance among the two countries. Both aspects need to stick to current agreements and protocols, which include the 1996 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LAC and the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question, to save similarly escalation of tensions and preserve peace and balance along the border, at the same time safeguarding India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As India continues to rise as a major global player, resolving the border dispute with China will be pivotal in defining its trajectory in the 21st century