The India-China border disputes date lower back to the early twentieth century whilst the British colonial rulers drew the McMahon Line as the boundary among 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 vicinity, which is claimed through India but occupied by means of China. Despite a couple of rounds of negotiations and agreements, including the 1996 Agreement at the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity alongside the LAC, the border disputes stay unresolved and continue to be a source of hysteria among the two giants.
Number of Chinese Incursions, by Year
Fig.1 Source: Rising tension in the Himalayas: A geospatial analysis of Chinese border incursions into India by Jan-Tino Brethouwer
(Note: Independent data is listed in orange using the left scale, the Indian Government’s data is in blue using the right scale)
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 facet and brought about a major escalation 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 inside the vicinity.
The implications of the border disputes and the current trends on India’s foreign coverage are a ways-reaching. India has historically pursued a policy of “non-alignment” and “strategic autonomy”, with all most important powers at the same time as safeguarding its country wide pastimes.
The India-China border disputes have additionally highlighted the strategic importance of the Himalayan location and the need for India to strengthen its army abilities and infrastructure along the border. In reaction to China’s developing assertiveness in the place, 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 Organisation (BRO) has completed 330 projects at a cost of ₹8,737 crore in the last three years.
Maintaining the channel of communication, both side hold numerous rounds of commander level meetings, the latest one was 21st round taken place on 19th February 2024 at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point, concluded with a hope and statement “committed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground” and wanted “mutually accepted resolutions of remaining issue”. But one major question appears at this point – “Is “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 Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Although the two countries trying to balance out their strategies and counter strategies, its for India to look situations from 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 defences in Siachen Glaciers. If China has the access there then twin threats on “Siachen” in South “state in mess” Pakistan and in the North “the dragon”.
Recently, another media report informed that “China has completed the construction of a 400-metre bridge, connecting the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso.” Which can be seen as a concern for the India side as these actions enhance communication channels.
The recent standoff has also underscored the significance of enhancing security cooperation with nations like Japan, Australia, and Vietnam, which percentage India’s concerns about China’s rising strength and assertiveness in the vicinity. At the same India’s focus in strengthening the idea of “free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific” with the 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 export to China in 2023-24 stood at $16.65 billion, while import stood at $101.75 billion. As a result, the trade deficit is over $85 billion.
However, the monetary courting has been marred with the aid of change imbalances, market get entry to 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 defence, infrastructure, and era 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.
The manner forward in resolving the India-China border disputes lies in a complete and sustained speak system that addresses the middle issues of contention and builds mutual consider 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 Tranquillity along the LAC and the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question, to save you 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 a major global player resolving the border dispute with China will be pivotal in defining its trajectory in the 21st century.
