Understanding India-China relationship Conflicts, strategic tensions and way forward Lets begin to understand the situation by looking

g at this map http://gsuryalss.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/india-china-border.jpg Area of focus is with regard to the 2 states bordering China J&K and Arunachal Pradesh. The issue dates as far back to the times of Colonial British rule in both countries. Indias relationship with China needs to be seen from these two angles First, the issue of Tibetan sovereignty, which the Chinese have been rejecting leading to years of bloody conflict, which continues unabated to this day with cases of self immolation still being reported. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debate secondly, acceptance of Dalai Lama the highest spiritual leader chosen as per Buddhist traditions. Now, how did independent India get involved in all these? History clearly shows that Nehrus bravado in the 60s, thanks to his Forward policy The key factor for China to pick up a grudge against India, resulting in a short, bloody SinoIndia conflict that began on 20 October 1962 and ended on 20 November 1962 (details here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_War), which as Mao Tse-Tung put it To teach India a lesson. The war ended by Chinese declaring a unilateral ceasefire, and withdrawing its troops from disputed area and the subsequent creation of Line of Actual Control (LAC). Strategic Importance of Tibet Tibet called the Roof of the World has for many centuries held awe a mystic feel on the world. Barren, secluded, landlocked and near impossible to reach till recently, it was a spiritual haven and an adventurers delight to just get there. Lhasa (called the Forbidden City) was/is a place worth visiting. Question is how important is it for India? To be frank, apart from cultural similarities and the fact that Tibetans still revere the Dalai Lama in exile, Tibet is part of China whole and soul. It would be better for Indians to accept this fact. What should concern Indians, especially Hindus is the m ost important place of pilgrimage Kailash Manasarovar and from secular India point of view the origin of river Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo River by Chinese). In spite of years of strategic tensions between India & China, Chinese authorities have been very grateful in respecting the Hindu religious sentiments (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-1026/ahmedabad/34749549_1_ramayana-indologist-ji-xianlin) on the Kailash Manasarovar and Brahmaputra River. Thanks to efforts of Dr Subramaniam Swamy, resumption of yatra after the 1962 conflict began in right earnest. Dr Swamy was successful in pioneering normalization of relations with China & in persuading the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1981 to open the hoary KailashManasarovar pilgrim route in Tibet. Now the question with regard to why China wont give up Tibet. Answer is simple Abundance of natural resources http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/ustibet-strategic-idUSSP2305020080325 . Excerpts from link above WATER:-- Tibet is dubbed 'Asia's Water Tower'. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a crucial water source and store for China, whose unevenly distributed water resources are said to be in crisis. -- Tibet's glaciers and snow-fed highlands feed Asia's great rivers, the Brahmaputra, Mekong, Yangtze, Indus, Yellow and Salween.

-- Mineral water from the plateau has become one of the region's first commercially tapped resources since the Qinghai-Lhasa railway cut transportation costs in 2006. OIL, GAS, MINERALS: -- China's biggest copper deposit is at Tibet's Yulong copper mine. Tibet also has large iron, lead, zinc, and cadmium deposits, minerals China needs to feed its booming economy. -- Geologists say Tibet has significant crude oil and natural gas reserves. But its harsh, high-altitude terrain makes extraction costly and challenging, and there is no significant commercial production at present In todays world where a countrys economy completely relies on its natural resource asset, China stands to be the biggest beneficiary. Very well aware of this issue, Chinese authorities are sparing no efforts in developing Tibet. Recently, the highest railway line was opened between Qinghai and Tibet. Many more initiatives like laying excellent roads, opening up of communication centres, post offices and many developmental activities hitherto unheard of in Tibet is happening (personally noticed them during my Kailash-Manasarovar trip in 2012). Many may argue against my stand, but facts are facts. China very much controls Tibet. Where India should be wary of China is on the issue relating to human rights issue, which again comes back to the sensitive issue of Dalai Lama in exile. Tibetans fight for freedom may sound their birth right, but the issue is best dealt between India & China without the intervention of the western world, which is exactly what China wants. China has, as much as India has, suffered a lot due to colonial British (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/20428167). Just that, the Chinese never lost their identity compared to the immense pseudo attitude Indians adopted for their selfish means. Between Tibet and China, India Plays Delicate Balancing Act http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/between-tibet-and-china-india-plays-delicate-balancingact/ Chinese goods smuggling through porous borders Trade in grey markets in a variety of goods has cost the national exchequer losses to the tune of Rs. 26,000crore in 2012, estimated a study by FICCI and CASCADE . Majority of goods smuggled between China and India happens via the Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh and Pakistan route than directly via Arunachal Pradesh. 1) http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/180410-dimapur-bangladesh-hong-kong-bazaarsmuggled-goods-market.htm 2) http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/HimachalPradesh/Cross-border-smuggling-onrise-in-Indo-China-border/Article1-741981.aspx 3) http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/01/10/feature-02 4) http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pharma-products-being-smuggled-outside-indiaare-misused_1807724 5) Smuggling of goods between Ladakh and China involves predominantly Pashmina shawls, cigarettes, etc. There was news of 50 tons of rare red wood from AP trying to get past the customs in Ladakh to China. 2

Illegally occupied area in J&K and Arunachal Pradesh Pakistan has been in illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78,000 sq. kms. of Indian Territory in Jammu and Kashmir. China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. km in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called `Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963`, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China (Source - http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=89244) Though the claims from both China and India on the Himalayan border areas have been quite differing with no agreement reached. Chinese claims: According to Peking, the boundary drawn in Indian maps cut about 38000sq km deep into Chinese territory. The Chinese claim some 50000sq miles of Indian territory. The disputed area has generally being considered into these areas a) Western Sector: The boundary of J&K with Sinkiang and with Tibet is a disputed territory measuring some 13000 to 15000sq km. In this area China claims the Aksai Chin district, the Changchenmo valley, Pengong lake and the Spangur Tso area of Northern Ladakh as well as a strip of land about 5000sq km down the entire length of Eastern Ladakh b) The Middle Sector: Conforms to the boundary with Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with Tibet. The Chinese claim nearly 1300sq km in this area. Barahoti, Nilang Jadhang, Sangcha Malla, Lapthal Chue-Chuje, Shipki pass and Pussing, Sundo Barahoti within an area of about 4sq km. Nilang Jadhang belongs to Tibet. Tibet has been exercising jurisdiction in this area. Sangcha Malla and Lapthal claimed by China are the areas situated in the Almora district of Uttar Pradesh. The form 3 to 10kms south of the border. Another claim of China pertains to Nilang Jadhang, an area of 140sq kms situated at the main watershed and to the north of the Himalayan range c) The Easter Sector: Conforms to the boundary of Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet. In this sector, the Chinese claim about 94700sq km of Indian territory, including the Kameng frontier division and 3/4ths of the Lohit division of the erstwhile NEFA, Tawang and Longju area are the most critical area. Sikkims border with Tibet is already demarcated on ground. Theres no dispute regarding Sikkims boundary with China (Tibet) Indias Claim: India claims that China has occupied 2500sq miles in the western sector (Ladakh) in addition to 12000sq miles occupied in 1962 through aggression. In the eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh) 20000sq miles of Indian territory is under illegal occupation of China after declaring cease fire on 21st November 1962. China has also forcefully occupied Longju which is on MacMahon Line. Link to map here http://bhavanajagat.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mcmahon-line-in-aksai-chin-ofladakh.jpg For more interested readers visit this link to read about the conversation between Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel on the MacMahon line saga http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/2012/10/1962-mcmahonline-saga.html In 2012, US ambassador to India Nancy J Powell said US still adopts the 1962 policy of recognizing the McMahon Line regarding the India-China border dispute, though US does not position itself in 3

the dispute and said "This is an issue between India and China. It has to be resolved bilaterally by the two countries." Stappled visa to J&K and Arunachal Pradesh citizens China has been issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris under Indian administration because they consider Jammu and Kashmir as contested region (another Nehruvian blunder) and hence will not directly stamp Indian passports, instead provide stapled visas. With regard to people of Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese consider indigenous Arunachalis as those belonging to the Nan Zang area or Southern Tibet, which is claimed by Chinese as their territory. Though in 2012, Chinese authorities claimed that stapled visas were not issued to Kashmiris but remained non-committal w.r.t Arunachal Pradesh http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/24/china-non-committal-on-stapled-visa-issue71.asp Attaching a link that elaborately explains reason for Chinese being upset with issue of Arunachal Pradesh (http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3293177#page=1) Brahmaputra river dam In 1972, the Chinese Academy of Sciences created the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Expedition which in part studied conditions in the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River basin. The study concluded that 114,000 MW of hydroelectric power generation capacity could be established in the basin, 79,000 MW from the main stem alone. A more in-depth hydrological study began in 1980 which identified 12 sites for dams. It was envisioned that the dams could alleviate power shortages in Lhasa. During the 1980s and 1980s, work failed to commence in the basin. Currently, there are 28 proposed dams in the basin, Zangmu being the only one approved for construction. In April 2009, China's Gezhouba group was awarded a $167 million contract for the Zangmu Hydropower Project. According to the company, the contract is for the design and construction of the dam along with its power house. The project will require 3,400,000 m 3 (4,400,000 cu yd) of concrete and 8 million tons of aggregate. Specifications for the dam are uncertain as China has not shared much information. On November 12, 2010, the construction reached coffer dam river closure. What has stunned India all the more than the Zangmu dam is Chinas plans to lift water more than 1000m and diver the entire river into Tibetan plateau. 1) http://www.rediff.com/news/special/chinas-dams-on-brahmaputra-can-be-dangerousbusiness/20130207.htm 2) http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/massive-water-diversion-projectnears-completion-in-china/article2867089.ece China is planning to interlink the Yangtze river with yellow river Latest news is that China has given the go-ahead for the construction of three new hydropower

dams on the middle reaches of Brahmaputra http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-gives-goahead-for-three-newbrahmaputra-dams/article4358195.ece

river

Importance to understand the urgent need for a Brahmaputra river treaty with China becomes all the more paramount as this kind of environmentally hazardous activity by China to ensure 4

prosperous Tibet is going to destroy many North Eastern Indian states apart from Bangladesh and Burma, who have openly voiced their protest. But the call is for India to take