2. PREVIEW
PART I - Introduction.
PART II - Background.
PART III - Sino-Indian Relations.
PART IV - Factors Influencing Relations.
PART V - Understanding Border Dispute.
PART VI - Change in Perception wrt Each Other.
PART VII - Latest in Indo-China Relations.
4. INTRODUCTION
Sino-Indian relations have always had an
importance on the balance of power in Asia.
Both the countries have played vital roles in
shaping the dynamics of the Cold War in Asia.
6. BACKGROUND
Diplomatic Recognition. India accorded diplomatic
recognition to the peoples Republic of China on
December 30, 1949. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)
made China independent through a revolution in 1949.
Accords Signed. The relations between India and China
in the 1950’s were very cordial and peaceful. In 1954, the
Chinese Premier, Mr Zou, En Lai visited India which led
to the signing of two Accords as follows :-
First Accord.India recognised Tibet as an integral part of
China and considered it to be an autonomous region of
China.
7. BACKGROUND
Second Accord. The declaration of Panchsheel in the
Joint Communiqué. The Panchsheel enshrines the five
principles of co-existence as follows :-
Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of all
States.
Non-aggression.
Non-interference in Territorial affairs.
Equality and Mutuality.
Peaceful Co-existence.
8. BACKGROUND
Wars. In the late 1950’s China, occupied small
portions of territory along the Indo-Tibet Frontier. In
1962, India and China fought a war which resulted in
China occupying sizeable portions of the India territory
in the West (Ladakh) and in the East (Arunachal Pradesh).
Parliamentary Resolution. The Indian Parliament
passed a resolution in 1962, pledging to wage an unending
struggle till the complete recovery of Indian territory
from China and it also forbade cessation of any occupied
territory to China as part of any border settlement.
10. SINO-INDIA RELATIONS
Normalisation of Relations. In the 1980’s more efforts
were made to normalise the relations. The real break-
through in the relations between the two countries came
during the path-breaking visit undertaken by Mr. Rajiv
Gandhi in 1988.
Detente. The 1990’s saw the beginning of the ‘detente’ in
the context of changing equations in the global scenario.
China’s President, Mr.Jiang Zemin visited India in Nov
1997. This was the first ever visit by a Chinese Head of
State to India.
11. SINO-INDIA RELATIONS
Deterioration in Relations. There had been deterioration
in Sino-Indian relations after the conduction of nuclear
tests by India. China adopted a brazenly partisan attitude
by terming India’s nuclear tests as “outrageous” but
describing Pakistan’s nuclear tests an only “regrettable”.
Senior officials in the government of India articulated the
“China threat”.
Normalisation of Relations. In Apr 1999, China restarted
an official dialogue with India. The Joint Working Group
(JWG) was convened in Beijing after 11 months delay
because of China’s refusal to set dates. The visit by the
(then) External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. Jaswant Singh,
to China in June 1999, followed by the President, Mr.
Narayanan’s visit in early 2000, helped in the normalisation
of bilateral relations.
13. FACTORS INFLUENCING
SINO - INDIA RELATIONS
Sino-Pak Defence Relations. The overt and covert
military assistance provided by China to Pakistan is the
biggest impediment in improving Sino-Indian relations.
The Sino-Pakistan collusion in the nuclear field is seen
as China’s long term strategy in gaining supremacy in
Asia.
Sikkim. China has not acknowledged Sikkim’s
integration with India. China is the only country that
does not accept Sikkim’s merger with India even though
India has recognised China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
14. FACTORS INFLUENCING
SINO - INDIA RELATIONS
Boundary Disputes. The non-resolution of Aksai Chin and
other boundary disputes. China has laid claim to 90,000
square kms of Arunachal Pradesh. Analysts feel that by
not resolving the boundary disputes China wants to keep
India under strategic pressure.
Military Bases in Tibet and Myanmar. China has built
military bases in Tibet and Myanmar which are seen by
India as a threat to its national security.
16. BORDER DISPUTE
The Main Areas of the Boarder Dispute.
The McMahon Line is not recognised by China.
The integration of Sikkim and Arunachal
Pradesh into India is also not recognised by
China.
19. BORDER DISPUTE
Shimla Conference. The 4060 km long Sino-Indian border
has been the bone of contention between the two countries.
The border dispute goes back the Shimla Conference of 1914
when the representatives of British India, Tibet and China
met. It was decided in the conference that :-
Tibet was an autonomous country.
The McMahon Line would be the boundary between
India and Tibet.
Chinese sovereignty of some sort would extend over
Tibet.
20. BORDER DISPUTE
Agreement Not Signed by China. At the 1914 Conference
the representatives of India and Tibet signed the
agreement, China did not, thereby disputing the McMahon
Line.
Mc Mahon Line. The Indo-China-Tibet boundary or the
McMahon Line in the East and the boundary (Aksai Chin)
along Ladakh in the West remained a boundary by usage
and understanding. The result was that the precise
boundary was not demarcated, leading to border skirmishes
in 1962 and the Chinese penetration into the Sumdurung
Chu Valley of Arunachal Pradesh in 1986.
21. BORDER DISPUTE
India’s Position.
The border in the West should remain at the 1959
position thereby implying that it does not recognise
China’s claim over Aksai Chin. The northern borders
of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim correspond to the
McMahon Line and hence the boundary.
India also holds that China is in Possession in Indian
territory which it occupied during the 1962 conflict.
The territory west of Karakoram within Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir (POK) belongs to India and has
been illegally ceded by Pakistan to China.
23. BASIC TENETS OF CHINA’S
POLICY TOWARDS INDIA
Promote the socio-economic development and prosperity
of both India and China.
Maintain peace and stability regionally and globally.
Strengthen multiplicity at the international level.
Enhance the positive factors globalisation.
Both sides are committed to developing their long-term
constructive and cooperative partnership on the basis of
the principles of Panchsheel, mutual respect and
sensitivity for each other’s concerns and equality.
24. BASIC TENETS OF CHINA’S
POLICY TOWARDS INDIA
Widening International Cooperation. Reaffirming that
China did not pose a threat to India, importance of Sino-
Indian cooperation in the changed international
situation.
Enhancing Mutual Understanding . Emphasis on the need
to simultaneously address the outstanding differences
and find new areas of cooperation.
An Assurance That China Stands for Peace and Stability in
the Subcontinent. China is willing to cooperate with India
in countering terrorism to ensure regional security and
stability.
26. LATEST TRENDS
Promote the socio-economic development and prosperity
of both India and China.
Maintain peace and stability regionally and globally.
Strengthen multiplicity at the international level.
Enhance the positive factors globalisation.
Both sides are committed to developing their long-term
constructive and cooperative partnership on the basis of
the principles of Panchsheel, mutual respect and
sensitivity for each other’s concerns and equality.
27. LATEST TRENDS
Both sides agree to qualitatively enhancing the
bilateral relationship at all levels and in all areas
while addressing differences through peaceful
means in a fair, reasonable and mutually
acceptable manner. The differences should not be
allowed to affect the overall development of
bilateral relations.
28. LATEST TRENDS
High – Level Exchanges. Both sides agreed to hold
regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Bilateral Trade. Welcomed the positive movement of
bilateral trade and economic cooperation in recent years
and shared the belief that continued expansion and
intensification of India-China economic cooperation is
essential for strengthening bilateral relations.
29. LATEST TRENDS
High – Level Exchanges. Both sides agreed to hold
regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Bilateral Trade. Welcomed the positive movement of
bilateral trade and economic cooperation in recent years
and shared the belief that continued expansion and
intensification of India-China economic cooperation is
essential for strengthening bilateral relations.
Joint Study Group. The two sides will setup a compact
Joint Study Group (JSG) composed of officials and
economists to examine the potential complementarities
between the two countries in expanded trade and
economic cooperation.
30. LATEST TRENDS
Boundary Issue.
The two sides exchanges views on the India-China boundary
question and expounded their respective positions.
They reiterated their readiness to seek a fair, reasonable and
mutually acceptable solution through consultations on equal
footing.
The two sides agreed that pending an ultimate solution, they
should work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the
border areas, and reiterated their commitment to continue
implementation of the agreements signed for this purpose,
including the clarification on the Line of Actual Control
(LAC).
The two sides agreed to each appoint a Special Representative
to explore from the political perspective of the overall
relationship the framework of a boundary settlement.
31. LATEST TRENDS
Tibet.
The Indian Side recognises that Tibet Autonomous Region
is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and
reiterates that it does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-
China political activities.
The Chinese side expresses its appreciation for the India
position and reiterates that it is firmly opposed to any
attempt and action aimed at splitting China and bringing
about independence of Tibet.
The India side recalled that India was among the first
countries to recognise that there is one China and its one
China policy remains unaltered.
The Chinese side expressed its appreciation of the Indian
position.
32. LATEST TRENDS
Sino-Indian Naval Exercise. India and China held their
first-ever joint naval exercises off Shanghai from November
10 to 14, 2003 in which an Indian destroyer of Godawari Class
and a corvette from the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern
Naval Command participated.
Trade. An immediate goal is to double the existing two-way
trade volume of about $5 billions within the next few years.