Read “Aksai Chin” in place of Aksia Chin and “Buddhist” in palce of Buddhisat.

Thanks

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”.

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.

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: http://www.chinaexpat.com – April 2007 issue on the archives – all about the Tea Horse Road and the ancient trading routes.