The India-China Border Dispute: A Historical Overview from 1947 to 1988
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Modern Indian History (Post-Independence); International Relations (India and its neighborhood); Geography (McMahon Line, Aksai Chin, Tawang, LAC).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Post-Independence History): Consolidation and reorganization within the country. The border issue and the 1962 war are key topics.
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations. Understanding the historical evolution is crucial for analyzing the current standoff.
Key Highlights from the News
The India-China border was not precisely defined, a historical issue dating back to the British and Manchu empires.
After independence, Aksai Chin in the western sector came under Chinese control, and Tawang in the eastern sector under Indian control.
In 1960, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai proposed a "swap deal": China would recognize India's claim over Arunachal Pradesh if Aksai Chin was ceded to China. However, India rejected this.
These disputes led to the 1962 India-China War.
In 1979, then Foreign Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to China helped normalize relations between the two countries after the war.
In 1986, a major crisis occurred when both armies faced each other in Wangdung (Sumdorong Chu Valley) in Arunachal Pradesh.
In 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to China was a crucial step towards true normalization of relations.
Key change in 1988: A significant shift from India's previous stance that other relations would not be normalized until the border dispute was resolved. Both countries decided to increase cooperation in other areas while maintaining peace and tranquility at the border.
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