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The line that separates Tibet and British India, created on 24th-25th March 1914 in Delhi, as agreed in the maps, is called McMahon Line. The boundary delimited the influence of both the countries, viz., Tibet and British India, in the Eastern Himalayan region. This region is extended along the North-eastern region of India and the Northern region of Burma. The only country which does not agree with the McMohan Line agreement is the Republic of China. China being a big empire caused tension during its fight for the control of the northern border of India. So, a conference held between October 1913 to July 1914 formulated a boundary between Tibet and British India under the leadership of British General Sir Henry McMahon. The boundary consists of Assam as a side part of eastern Bhutan, continuing with the ridges of the Himalayas running for about 890 km, along with the point till it reaches The Brahmaputra River where it reaches the Assamese Valley after its origin at Tibetan Glacier of the Angsi Glacier or Manasarovar.
History of McMahon Line
In 1914, delegates from India and Tibet signed the Shimla Treaty, which established a firm delineation between the two countries. China was not included in this pact since Tibet was still an independent province at that time. According to the Shimla Agreement, the McMahon Line signifies a definite borderline dividing China and India. The British authorities believed that Tawanda was a part of Arunachal Pradesh, and also the southern portion of Tibet was considered a part of India. This caused the annexation of the area of Tawang, which is a part of Arunachal Pradesh.
Tibet being a weak but autonomous country gained the right to negotiate a boundary deal with any country due to the creation of the McMahon Line in 1914.
Tibet was not administered by China at the time when the McMahon Line was drawn. As a result, the McMahon Line serves as a distinct and legal border between India and China.
Even after China occupied Tibet in 1950, the Tawang region remained an important part of India.
Current Status of McMahon line
The Shimla Agreement states that it is a part of Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state. The territory is 2,000 Km long. However, according to China, it used to be 4,000 Km long. As a result, China rejects almost every treaty signed before the communist revolution. The Panchsheel Accord is a good example of this. India recognises the McMahon Line as the “Actual Line of Control (LAC)” between the two countries. However, China does not recognise the McMahon Line.
Policies surrounding the McMahon Line
Forward Policy
Pt. Nehru approved the “Forward Policy” in November 1961, which called for the establishment of military outposts in disputed regions, including 43 outposts north of LAC. On September 8, 1962, a Chinese force attacked an Indian position at Dhola in the Namka Chu valley, 7 Km north of the McMahon Line and immediately south of the Thag Ridge. China made an intense assault across the McMahon Line on 20th October 1913 and a second attack farther north. China advanced 90 Km from the McMahon Line to Rupa and subsequently Chaku in NEFA’s extreme western sector and 30 Km to Walong in NEFA’s extreme eastern half in the ensuing Sino-Indian War.
Disagreements and Cold War
Sumdorong Chu Valley is considered one of the highest valleys in the world, which is present in the upper Himalayan crest. It is also considered the highest peak valley in McMahon line valley. Here, Indian security agencies set up an observation site in the 1990s. However, soon after that, the officers were compelled to leave. Before an Indian team arrived in the valley in 1986, China deployed soldiers.
Sino-Indian Agreement
In 1988, the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, went ahead and paid a visit to China to amend relationships. Both governments are currently planning to establish a road or highway. They do not resort to personal attacks after signing peace accords, but little progress has been made, given the two countries’ tense relations. A 1996 agreement between China and India established “confidence-building measures to avert border confrontations.”
Conclusion
China, being a strong country, always invades the disputed land, and this shows that they did not respect their particular borders and the land allotted from the McMahon line. As a result, China always fought British India and democratic India for those invaded land. So, the McMahon line is the Line of control created between Tibet and British India to maintain peace as per the Shimla Convention in 1914.
