india china relationship

7/30/2019 India China Relationship

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Understanding India-China relationshipConflicts, strategic tensions and way forward

Lets begin to understand the situation by looking at this map

http://gsuryalss.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/india-china-border.jpg

Area of focus is with regard to the 2 states bordering China J&K and Arunachal Pradesh. The issuedates as far back to the times of Colonial British rule in both countries. Indias relat ionship with

China needs to be seen from these two angles First, the issue of Tibetan sovereignty, which the

Chinese have been rejecting leading to years of bloody conflict, which continues unabated to this

day with cases of self immolation still being reported.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debate secondly, acceptance of Dalai Lama the

highest spiritual leader chosen as per Buddhist traditions. Now, how did independent India get

involved in all these? History clearly shows that Nehrus bravado in the 60s, thanks to his Forward

policy The key factor for China to pick up a grudge against India, resulting in a short, bloody Sino-

India conflict that began on 20 October 1962 and ended on 20 November 1962 (details here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_War), which as Mao Tse-Tung put it To teach India a

lesson. The war ended by Chinese declaring a unilateral ceasefire, and withdrawing its troops from

disputed area and the subsequent creation of Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Strategic Importance of Tibet

Tibet called the Roof of the World has for many centuries held awe a mystic feel on the world.

Barren, secluded, landlocked and near impossible to reach till recently, it was a spiritual haven and

an adventurers delight to just get there. Lhasa (called the Forbidden City) was/is a place worth

visiting. Question is how important is it for India? To be frank, apart from cultural similarities and the

fact that Tibetans still revere the Dalai Lama in exile, Tibet is part of China whole and soul. It wouldbe better for Indians to accept this fact. What should concern Indians, especially Hindus is the most

important place of pilgrimage Kailash Manasarovar and from secular India point of view the

origin of river Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo River by Chinese). In spite of years of strategic

tensions between India & China, Chinese authorities have been very grateful in respecting the Hindu

religious sentiments (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-

26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlin ) on the Kailash Manasarovar and

Brahmaputra River. Thanks to efforts of Dr Subramaniam Swamy, resumption of yatra after the 1962

conflict began in right earnest. Dr Swamy was successful in pioneering normalization of relations

with China & in persuading the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1981 to open the hoary Kailash-

Manasarovar pilgrim route in Tibet. Now the question with regard to why China wont give up Tibet.

Answer is simple Abundance of natural resourceshttp://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-

tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325.

Excerpts from link above

WATER:-- Tibet is dubbed 'Asia's Water Tower'. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a crucial water source

and store for China, whose unevenly distributed water resources are said to be in crisis.

-- Tibet's glaciers and snow-fed highlands feed Asia's great rivers, the Brahmaputra, Mekong,

Yangtze, Indus, Yellow and Salween.
http://gsuryalss.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/india-china-border.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_Warhttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/us-tibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debatehttp://gsuryalss.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/india-china-border.jpg


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-- Mineral water from the plateau has become one of the region's first commercially tapped

resources since the Qinghai-Lhasa railway cut transportation costs in 2006.

OIL, GAS, MINERALS:

-- China's biggest copper deposit is at Tibet's Yulong copper mine. Tibet also has large iron, lead, zinc,and cadmium deposits, minerals China needs to feed its booming economy.

-- Geologists say Tibet has significant crude oil and natural gas reserves. But its harsh, high-altitude

terrain makes extraction costly and challenging, and there is no significant commercial production at

present

In todays world where a countrys economy completely relies on its natural resource asset, China

stands to be the biggest beneficiary. Very well aware of this issue, Chinese authorities are sparing no

efforts in developing Tibet. Recently, the highest railway line was opened between Qinghai and

Tibet. Many more initiatives like laying excellent roads, opening up of communication centres, post

offices and many developmental activities hitherto unheard of in Tibet is happening (personally

noticed them during my Kailash-Manasarovar trip in 2012).

Many may argue against my stand, but facts are facts. China very much controls Tibet. Where India

should be wary of China is on the issue relating to human rights issue, which again comes back to the

sensitive issue of Dalai Lama in exile. Tibetans fight for freedom may sound their birth right, but the

issue is best dealt between India & China without the intervention of the western world, which is

exactly what China wants. China has, as much as India has, suffered a lot due to colonial British

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/20428167). Just that, the Chinese never lost their identity

compared to the immense pseudo attitude Indians adopted for their selfish means.

Between Tibet and China, India Plays Delicate Balancing Act

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-

act/

Chinese goods smuggling through porous borders

Trade in grey markets in a variety of goods has cost the national exchequer losses to the tune of Rs.

26,000crore in 2012, estimated a study by FICCI and CASCADE . Majority of goods smuggled between

China and India happens via the Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh and Pakistan route than directly via

Arunachal Pradesh.

1) http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htm

2) http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspx

3) http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/01/10/feature-024) http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-

are-misused_1807724

5) Smuggling of goods between Ladakh and China involves predominantly Pashmina shawls,cigarettes, etc. There was news of 50 tons of rare red wood from AP trying to get past thecustoms in Ladakh to China.
http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-act/http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-act/http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-act/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/01/10/feature-02http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/01/10/feature-02http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-india-are-misused_1807724http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/01/10/feature-02http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-on-rise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspxhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaar-smuggled-goods-market.htmhttp://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-act/http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancing-act/


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Illegally occupied area in J&K and Arunachal Pradesh

Pakistan has been in illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78,000 sq. kms. of Indian

Territory in Jammu and Kashmir. China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000sq. km in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called `Sino-Pakistan

Boundary Agreement of 1963`, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan

Occupied Kashmir to China (Source -http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244)

Though the claims from both China and India on the Himalayan border areas have been quite

differing with no agreement reached.

Chinese claims: According to Peking, the boundary drawn in Indian maps cut about 38000sq km

deep into Chinese territory. The Chinese claim some 50000sq miles of Indian territory. The disputed

area has generally being considered into these areas

a) Western Sector: The boundary of J&K with Sinkiang and with Tibet is a disputed territorymeasuring some 13000 to 15000sq km. In this area China claims the Aksai Chin district, the

Changchenmo valley, Pengong lake and the Spangur Tso area of Northern Ladakh as well as

a strip of land about 5000sq km down the entire length of Eastern Ladakh

b) The Middle Sector: Conforms to the boundary with Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradeshwith Tibet. The Chinese claim nearly 1300sq km in this area. Barahoti, Nilang Jadhang,

Sangcha Malla, Lapthal Chue-Chuje, Shipki pass and Pussing, Sundo Barahoti within an area

of about 4sq km. Nilang Jadhang belongs to Tibet. Tibet has been exercising jurisdiction in

this area. Sangcha Malla and Lapthal claimed by China are the areas situated in the Almora

district of Uttar Pradesh. The form 3 to 10kms south of the border. Another claim of China

pertains to Nilang Jadhang, an area of 140sq kms situated at the main watershed and to the

north of the Himalayan range

c) The Easter Sector: Conforms to the boundary of Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet. In this sector,the Chinese claim about 94700sq km of Indian territory, including the Kameng frontier

division and 3/4ths of the Lohit division of the erstwhile NEFA, Tawang and Longju area are

the most critical area. Sikkims border with Tibet is already demarcated on ground. Theres

no dispute regarding Sikkims boundary with China (Tibet)

Indias Claim: India claims that China has occupied 2500sq miles in the western sector (Ladakh) in

addition to 12000sq miles occupied in 1962 through aggression. In the eastern sector (Arunachal

Pradesh) 20000sq miles of Indian territory is under illegal occupation of China after declaring cease

fire on 21st

November 1962. China has also forcefully occupied Longju which is on MacMahon Line.

Link to map herehttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-

ladakh.jpg

For more interested readers visit this link to read about the conversation between Nehru and Sardar

Vallabhai Patel on the MacMahon line sagahttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-

line-saga.html

In 2012, US ambassador to India Nancy J Powell said US still adopts the 1962 policy of recognizing

the McMahon Line regarding the India-China border dispute, though US does not position itself in
http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244http://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahon-line-saga.htmlhttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-of-ladakh.jpghttp://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244


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the dispute and said "This is an issue between India and China. It has to be resolved bilaterally by the

two countries."

Stappled visa to J&K and Arunachal Pradesh citizens

China has been issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris under Indian administration because they considerJammu and Kashmir as contested region (another Nehruvian blunder) and hence will not directly

stamp Indian passports, instead provide stapled visas. With regard to people of Arunachal Pradesh,

Chinese consider indigenous Arunachalis as those belonging to the Nan Zang area or Southern Tibet,

which is claimed by Chinese as their territory. Though in 2012, Chinese authorities claimed that

stapled visas were not issued to Kashmiris but remained non-committal w.r.t Arunachal Pradesh

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-

71.asp

Attaching a link that elaborately explains reason for Chinese being upset with issue of Arunachal

Pradesh (http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1)

Brahmaputra river dam

In 1972, the Chinese Academy of Sciences created the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive

Scientific Expedition which in part studied conditions in the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River basin. The

study concluded that 114,000 MW of hydroelectric power generation capacity could be established

in the basin, 79,000 MW from the main stem alone. A more in-depth hydrological study began in

1980 which identified 12 sites for dams. It was envisioned that the dams could alleviate power

shortages in Lhasa. During the 1980s and 1980s, work failed to commence in the basin. Currently,

there are 28 proposed dams in the basin, Zangmu being the only one approved for construction.

In April 2009, China's Gezhouba group was awarded a $167 million contract for the Zangmu

Hydropower Project. According to the company, the contract is for the design and construction of

the dam along with its power house. The project will require 3,400,000 m3

(4,400,000 cu yd) of

concrete and 8 million tons of aggregate. Specifications for the dam are uncertain as China has not

shared much information. On November 12, 2010, the construction reached coffer dam river

closure.

What has stunned India all the more than the Zangmu dam is Chinas plans to lift water more than

1000m and diver the entire river into Tibetan plateau.

1) http://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htm2) http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-

nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ece China is planning to interlink the Yangtze

river with yellow river

Latest news is that China has given the go-ahead for the construction of three new hydropower

dams on the middle reaches of Brahmaputra river

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-

brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ece

Importance to understand the urgent need for a Brahmaputra river treaty with China becomes allthe more paramount as this kind of environmentally hazardous activity by China to ensure
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-71.asphttp://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-71.asphttp://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-71.asphttp://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1http://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-new-brahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-project-nears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ecehttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerous-business/20130207.htmhttp://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-71.asphttp://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue-71.asp


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prosperous Tibet is going to destroy many North Eastern Indian states apart from Bangladesh and

Burma, who have openly voiced their protest. But the call is for India to take

india china relationship

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