If India and China could resolve differences . . .

The relationship between India and China, two of the oldest civilisations in the world, has been a saga, marked by both shared history and contentious moments.

- SANTHOSH MATHEW

As the two nations celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of their diplomatic ties, the journey of their complex relationship reveals a fascinating story of aspirations, trust, mistrust, and evolving geopolitical realities. When India and China first established diplomatic ties in 1950, it was a moment of promise.

India was the first non-socialist country to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China (PRC) following its establishment after a bloody civil war. India, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, was focused on promoting a vision of peaceful coexistence and nonalignment during the Cold War. Nehru saw a future where the two Asian giants could cooperate to achieve regional peace and stability.

This vision was encapsulated in the Panchsheel Agreement, signed in 1954, based on five guiding principles: respect for territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The relationship, however, was fraught with challenges from the start. China’s refusal to honour the McMahon Line, which demarcated the border between Tibet and India, and its invasion of Tibet in 1950, created early tensions. India, under Nehru’s leadership, viewed China’s expansionist ambitions with increasing suspicion.

The fact that India offered sanctuary to the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, following an uprising in Tibet in 1959, was seen by China as a direct affront to its sovereignty. Beijing accused India of meddling in its internal affairs, especially over the Tibet issue, and the relationship began to sour. Nehru, ever the optimist, sought to engage with China diplomatically. He believed that forging closer ties would help India address its security concerns and create a stable, peaceful environment in Asia. However, the signing of the Panchsheel Agreement, in 1954, did not resolve the underlying issues.