Putting the trouble to rest
May 16th, 2007 - by 2point6billion.comShared by our friends at the China Economic Review Editors Blog
India and China still have a fight to settle. In 1962, at a time when both were troubled developing countries, they fought a brief war over a section of territory that could be up to 90,000 square kilometers.
Through the end of October and most of November of that year, China advanced on what was then Indian-controlled territory. In late November, China declared a unilateral ceasefire. A formal ceasefire agreement was never drawn up. India says China still controls more than 30,000 sq km of its territory.
Depending on who you talk to on the ground in India, the remnants of the war are either little more than an annoying reminder of potential tensions between the two emerging powers or an enormous unmentioned elephant that has to be dealt with before the two countries can really get down to the business of trade.
In 2005, India and China agreed to a framework that would eventually see the territorial dispute settled. Despite increasingly amicable relations, however, the dispute is still officially in the books.
Now, after 45 years, India said the two countries are working to find a “final settlement“.
This is good news. No matter how good relations may be, there is still a wide streak of mistrust on both sides. Politicians do their best to overcome with a reasonably steady stream of mutual visits but the mistrust is still there. In India, Chinese often have to deal with suspicions and their products are often considered as cheap and second rate. The lack of trust also occasionally surfaces in China as well.
Last month, the two countries met for a 10th round of talks on the subject. The talks continue to move forward; even though little tangible news of progress has emerged, the fact that both countries are moving closer to a resolution is telling. These two countries are likely to be the most significant of the coming century and their willingness to settle old disputes amicably is a good sign of things to come.
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May 16th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
There are two disputed areas - parts of Ladakh, essentially high altitude desert, which was strategic when Tibet was ‘liberated’ by the Chinese. To the south lies Kashmir, an area which belongs to India, on which Pakistan has claims, and which wants nothing really to do with either. This is the area in which the ‘62 border skirmishes were, and India came off second best, losing parts of territory that had been under it’s administration but in reality had historically been small independent buddhist kingdoms. India has been pressing it’s claims for the return of the territory it lost near Ladakh, however the Chinese viewed the region as sensitive due to the ancient passes that run from there through to Lhasa. Some of which the Dalai Lama used when he fled to North-West India.
The other disputed area is to the east: Arundel Pradesh, which has long been an Indian state, and has never been under Chinese control. However, it too was only loosely governed, way up close to the tea borders with Chinese Tibet and Burma, it was long ago the preserve of headhunters and traders; de facto ruled by local warlords. Even today it is a difficult area to get into requiring special passes. Large parts are governed by the Indian military.
The Chinese have been wanting to re-open the Nathu La Pass, which up to 60 years ago used to be a major trading route between China and India, and they have even built a so-called ‘friendship road’ to promote trade up to the Indian border and facilities on their side for warehousing of goods and so on. The Indians are having none of it, and the Indian side remains dirt tracks and undeveloped, again, with a high military presence.
Comments made by the Chinese that “The people here look Chinese” and a belief that this implies rights over territory have not gone done well. And indeed they DO look Chinese - however they are Indian in culture right down to the waggling head, devout buddhism, and a strictly vegetarian diet. (That’s Indian vegetarianism, not the so-called Chinese version prepared in pork fat and served with bacon bits).
While talks continue, press in Delhi today commented on the Chinese being desirous of Arundel Pradesh as a trade for Ladakh to ’settle’ the dispute. It’s been rebuffed. “The Chinese have realised Ladakh is essentially high-altitude desert, while Arundel Pradesh is fertile” says the Hindustan Times. “But as a bargaining chip this policy is doomed to fail”.
As for the people of Arundel Pradesh, they are often now to be found in swanky Bombay and Delhi hotels, bars and restaurants, they have the Chinese grace, yet the Indian sensibilities and - crucially - English language.
While the dispute has indeed moved from military confrontation to diplomacy, and trade is back on the agenda as the main topic - I doubt whether the friendship road will re-open any time soon.
Further reading about the area: China Expat: www.chinaexpat.com - April 2007 issue on the archives - all about the Tea Horse Road and the ancient trading routes.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:10 am
Three Little Indians – Sumita Ghosh (left) of 2point6billion, and two waitresses from Nagaland pose at the Dome Bar, Mumbai. An apt illustration of ethnic appearances melting into each other at China’s border with India.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
wow, you look so young there sumita. however, you are right about how ethnic appearances melt into each other.
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Chris,
Thanks for an interesting comment.
A couple of points:
The disputed area of Aksia Chin was not a conglomeration of small independent Buddhisat Kingdoms but belonged to the Kingdom of Ladakh which was later subsumed by the Kingdom of Kashmir (in the 19th century).
The other disputed area is “Arunachal Pradesh” NOT Arundel Pradesh which loosely translated could mean either “land of the rising sun” or “land (mountains) of the dawn”.
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Sorry,
Some typos in my haste to press the “submit” button:
Read “Aksai Chin” in place of Aksia Chin and “Buddhist” in palce of Buddhisat.
Thanks