The border disorder

China have major claims on two major Indian territories—one is on the Aksai Chin in north-eastern Ladakh, the other one being India’s ‘land of rising sun’ Arunachal Pradesh. The problem started in 1914 when the British Government named the borderline – Mcmahon line, after British general Mcmahon.
The Simla convention was rejected by China as it regarded the Tibetan government incapable of concluding treaties being non-sovereign in nature. Also china pointed out that Lhasa’s declaration of independence in 1913 was not recognized by any Chinese Government. As a result Mcmahon line was not accepted by China. The Imperial Government of China did never agreed to it neither did the Chiang Kai –Shek Government. The first Chinese attack on India was on 20th October 1962, China unable to reach political accommodation along 3225-kilometer long Himalayan border. In the fight the Indian forces were swept away by the Chinese forces. In Karakoram Pass and from some places near Panong Lake the Indian forces were bulldozed as the Indian troop had no proper ammunition at that time and were not trained to fight at such high altitude. In eastern region problem germinated in Assam, where on the first day the Indian army fell completely to the mordant Chinese assail, on western side of north east region Tsang Dar fell on Oct 22, Bum La on Oct 23, and the Headquarter of the Seventh Infantry Brigade on Oct 24th . The official figure that New Delhi gives today is that China is illegally occupying 38000 square kilometers of Indian territory in Kashmir and claims that 90000 square kilometers of land in India-ruled Arunachal Pradesh belongs to China. After this capture the Chinese govt gave a negotiation offer which was discarded by the Indian Govt. Failing in this attempt the Chinese people’s republic made many efforts to achieve a settlement on the dispute.
The Chinese govt. made innumerable approaches to settle the dispute on some satisfactory ground but the Nehru Government turned it down, though the diplomatic notes that were sent to the Indian government were implied in a conciliatory language and were regarded as a catalyst to safeguard the territorial integrity of India and China. In this juncture it can also be mentioned that in neither of the proposal that the Chinese Govt. gave to made to India did contain any pre condition for the negotiations. The Chinese govt. also did not opt to the type of language that could be interpretative to be a threat to India. It was also reported by the World Press that Nehru was in favour of “fight a limited offensive operation.” But what lies under the crust is that the imperialist world particularly the U.S. would be relieved to see that the two leading powers of Asia are engaged in blood-shed, loosing life and resources and hence becoming economically dependent on U.S. monopoly. In 1988 Rajiv Gandhi tried to open a new chapter of India China boundary settlement. The 1993 and 1996 peace building measures were results of this phase. However confidence did not grow because China refused to move an inch from its occupied territories with Beijing showing a little interest. However with the problems simmering the Prime ministers of both the countries have decided to start ‘a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity’. This agreement for border dispute is expected to enhance the economic cooperation and settle the dispute over 3500 kilometers of common Indo-China border. In the meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries, Beijing has expressed its wish to develop a free trade zone and the PMs of both the countries have agreed to appoint a panel of experts to study the viability of the free trade zone.