India-China Border Disputes and the Doklam Issue

The recent standoff between India and China on the Doklam plateau, which lies at the crossroads of India, China, and Bhutan, has received a lot of attention. It’s become the largest military standoff between the two armies in years. Many people are even afraid of war. This article delves into the India-China border disputes, the recent Doklam issue, various India-China border agreements, and other issues involving the two countries.

India and China have border disputes.

The India-China border can be divided into three sections.

1. The Aksai Chin sector is included in the Western Sector. China claims this region, which was originally part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, as part of its autonomous Xinjiang region. It is now administered by China following the 1962 war. It is the second largest Indo-China border area, encompassing over 38000 square kilometres. It is, however, an uninhabited land. The While India claims the entire Aksai Chin territory also as well as the Shaksgam valley (Indian territory gifted to China by Pakistan), The China contests Indian control over Daulat Beg Oldi (a tehsil in Leh, south of Aksai China—it is thought to be home to the world’s highest airstrip).

2. UNDISPUTED – Central Sector Despite China’s recognition of India’s sovereignty over Sikkim and the start of trade at the Nathu La pass, the Doklam incident could cause problems on all fronts.

3. DISPUTED – Eastern Sector, The Arunachal Pradesh border, which China still claims as its own, is the most disputed area, covering approximately 90000 square kilometres. It was officially known as the North East Frontier Agency. The People’s Liberation Army occupied it during the 1962 war, but they declared a unilateral ceasefire and withdrew while respecting the international boundary (Mcmahon Line). It has, however, maintained its claim to the territory. China now claims almost the entire state of Arunachal. (Note: This is why the Dalai Lama’s recent visit to Tawang monastery has become such a contentious bilateral issue.)

Won in Doklam

North Korea’s latest missile attack has diverted attention away from a potentially more significant turn of events in global security. That is the apparent abrupt resolution of the border clash between Chinese and Indian troops in the disputed Himalayan territory of Doklam. The Indian government has been careful not to embarrass China and has not declared victory since the risky, months-long standoff ended. 

See India’s initial official statement, which was written with the excruciating minimalism that Ministry of External Affairs officers spend years perfecting (this was followed by a gentle clarification that both sides were withdrawing forces). Meanwhile, the Chinese state media has been quick to boast about the outcome, which included the withdrawal of Indian forces, but has been conspicuously silent on the apparent cessation of the Chinese road-building activity that sparked the entire crisis.

India-China border dispute

While the world waits for the next steps in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, another border dispute is going unnoticed. The India and China share a 2,167-mile border that has been disputed for more than the 80 years. In 1962, the two countries went to war over this border, resulting in a stand-off that continues to this day. 

The Despite the tense stand-off and both countries claim to be determined to avoid the another war. Given that both countries are emerging superpowers with modern militaries and nuclear weapons, this dispute is becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, the two countries account for 35% of the global population and 21% of global GDP. The border is divided into three sections and is one of the world’s longest contested borders. 

The first section runs east of Bhutan, where the Chinese consider the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh to be part of southern Tibet. The second section is a 50-mile narrow strip of land that connects Nepal and Bhutan. This border region is small but strategically important to India because it connects the country’s far east with the rest of the country. Bhutan, along with China and India, claims parts of this region. The third section runs north of Tibet, bordering Indian Ladakh and the Chinese region of Aksai Chin. Each of these borders is disputed by China and India. Because the border region is particularly mountainous, the boundaries are poorly defined, and accidental incursions are common. 

Furthermore, as with other colonial borders, the Sino-Indian border was drawn with little agreement from the two countries, particularly China. China asserts historical and cultural ties with the people on the Indian side of the border. Furthermore, the Ladakh region serves as a base for the Tibetan independence movement and may provide China with a more direct route to Pakistan.

Conclusion 

The Chinese state media has been quick to boast about the outcome, which included the withdrawal of Indian forces, but has been conspicuously silent on the apparent cessation of the Chinese road-building activity that sparked the entire crisis. The recent standoff between India and China on the Doklam plateau, which lies at the crossroads of India, China, and Bhutan, has received a lot of attention. The While India claims the entire Aksai Chin territory also as well as the Shaksgam valley (Indian territory gifted to China by Pakistan), The China contests Indian control over Daulat Beg Oldi (a tehsil in Leh, south of Aksai China it is thought to be home to the world’s highest airstrip). The India and China share a 2,167-mile border that has been disputed for more than the 80 years. The border is divided into three sections and is one of the world’s longest contested borders.