India-China: between pre-1962 and now

In News

The clash between Indian troops and the Chinese PLA at Galwan in 2020 and the recent altercation between troops at Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh have served to highlight the lingering boundary dispute as well as the complex Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Parallels in India-China relations in the 1960s and the current situation 

• Both situations concern the boundary question, although the focus in the 1950s was on the fundamental question of the “territorial dispute” involving the whole of Aksai Chin claimed by India and the whole of NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) claimed by China.
• Today, however, with the Chinese firmly in occupation of Aksai Chin and India firm in guarding its territorial integrity in Arunachal Pradesh, the immediate issue has moved on to transgressions along the LAC.
  • Major difference today is that the focus is primarily on the LAC as against the larger boundary dispute even though neither side has given up its extensive territorial claims.
• Sector wise:
  • The differences in the western sector (Ladakh) are no longer confined to Trig Heights in the Daulet Beg Oldie (DBO) area and Demchok in the south as was the case in earlier decades.
    • The Depsang Bulge, Galwan, Pangong Lake and Hot Springs are areas where China is seeking to press expedient claims. 
  • In the middle (central sector), the Barahoti pasture north of Chamoli in Uttarakhand has been at the centre of the dispute for the past seven decades.
  • In the eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh), the international boundary and the LAC are defined by the 1914 McMahon Line, based on the watershed principle.
    • Yet, China seeks to make inroads in the Tawang sector as well as other areas such as the Upper Subansiri region, and further, near the tri-junction with Myanmar. 

Approaches China: Traditionally, China has enjoyed an advantage in terms of terrain and logistics on the high plateau of Tibet. China has always projected a spurious interpretation of the LAC and shied away from clarifying its position through an exchange of large-scale maps following the one-off exchange of maps two decades ago concerning the middle sector. In the 1950s, China had yet to reveal its true bias in favour of Pakistan, including on Kashmir. As ties deteriorated, China’s support for Pakistan in Kashmir became self-apparent in the vocal call for self-determination in the 1960s. Today, China openly works in tandem with Pakistan against India’s interests to internationalise the issue at the UN.China’s internal vulnerabilities have always cast a shadow on bilateral relations with India. In the late 1950s, Mao Zedong adopted an aggressive stance towards India as a means of consolidating his leadership in the face of internal challenges and avoiding censure of disastrous political and economic policies. Today, Mr Xi is facing mounting scrutiny for the dreadful Zero-COVID policy, and growing authoritarianism. The tendency to create external diversions is a common thread.India: Unlike in the past, India is rapidly building its border infrastructure.China has had a headstart in building its own, yet has the temerity to object to improved logistics on the Indian side, solely to keep intact the asymmetry. In 1962, India was forced to approach the U.S. and other Western countries for military assistance to meet the Chinese challenge. But it was meagre and came too late. In the current phase, India has rapidly inducted new weapon systems albeit with a heavy emphasis on aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing.The biggest difference between the situation in the 1960s and now is the political will of the Modi government and the determination of the Indian army to block Chinese patrols, and not just in Yangtse.

Future Prospects 

• India and China are positioned in close proximity at multiple locations along the LAC and the senior military commanders have held 17 rounds of meetings so far. 
• Overall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s endeavour to engage China has been in keeping with India’s broader world vision of good-neighbourly and peaceful ties, inclusive growth and development.
  • China’s vision is contrarian. It seeks to build a China-centric hierarchy with scant regard for notions of equality and multipolarity.
• India has constantly stated that the relationship cannot go back to normal as long as the standoff situation continues, and has repeatedly called for the restoration of the status quo and restoration along the LAC.