Asia's Last Peace: Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai

The seeds of doubt between China and India were sown in the 20th century, with British attempts to align Tibet with British India, leading to the 1904 Expedition to Tibet, which the Qing Dynasty viewed as a direct affront to its sovereignty.

- NILANTHA ILANGAMUWA

By 1965, India (IB) and the CIA secretly planted a nuclear-powered surveillance device on Nanda Devi to monitor China's nuclear tests, but the mission failed, and the lost plutonium device, radioisotope thermoelectric generator, remains unaccounted for to this day, deepening the mistrust between the two nations.

On April 1, 1950, India became the first non-socialist bloc country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. In a few days, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of this relationship. Two giants China and India-occupy the heart of this vast and diverse landmass, their destinies irrevocably intertwined. As Wang Yi noted, Mao used the metaphor of a "cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant" to describe the importance of China and India working together harmoniously.

With populations exceeding 2.85 billion, these nations wield the power to shape the future not only of Asia but of the entire world. Yet, despite their economic rise and deep historical connections, their relationship remains one of profound ambivalence, laced with suspicion, insecurity, and an unresolved legacy of conflict. If the peace of Asia is to hold, it hinges on this question: can India and China shed the weight of history and build a future of cooperation, respect, and stability?