How 'Complex' Is the India-China Border Dispute?

Recently, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Defence Ministers' Conclave, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that "India and China should work towards resolving the complex issues under a structured roadmap. And should de-escalate tensions along the LAC".

- UPAMANYU BASU

In response, in a later press review, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning remarked, "the border dispute is complicated and takes time to resolve".

She also reiterated that Beijing is ready to hold discussions on delimitation. She highlighted that China and India have already established the Special Representative mechanism (SR) on the boundary question and reached the Agreement on the "Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question".

On answering why there is a delay in resolving the border issue even after 23 rounds of SR-level talks, she remarked, "it is a complex issue".

This brings us to the fundamental question of this piece: "How complex is the India-China border issue?"

Why Is the India-China Border a Complex Issue?

India was the first non-communist country to recognize the People's Republic of China and also backed China's recognition into the United Nations in the early 1950s. But this bonhomie considerably changed, giving way to tensions for a variety of reasons. But the question of unresolved issues of territoriality remains a prime contestation between these two Asian powers.

The initial rift between the two countries regarding territorial recognition started with Beijing's unique position regarding Tibet. In 1954, India and China agreed to sign the Panchsheel agreement to regulate India's relations with India, restricting the right to trade and travel without visa, etc. Later, India published maps which showed Ladakh's Aksai Chin plateau as Indian territory. This move coincided with the growing unrest in Tibet, the flight of Tibetan refugees into India, and the Dalai Lama's historic escape to Indian soil in 1959—all of which further strained bilateral ties.