Is India Testing China Out on Their Disputed Border Again?

The Diplomat ^ | November 21, 2017 | Charlotte Gao

[TigerLikesRooster]

Is India Testing China Out on Their Disputed Border Again?

China ‘firmly’ opposes to Indian president’s latest visit to disputed Arunachal Pradesh

By Charlotte Gao

November 21, 2017

Two months after China and India diffused tensions on the Doklam standoff, there seems to be a new risk looming over the two countries.

On November 19, Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind paid his first visit since assuming office in July to Arunachal Pradesh — a long-disputed territory between Beijing and New Delhi.

India categorizes Arunachal Pradesh as the northeastern-most state of the country, but the Chinese government has never recognized that claim. According to China, what India calls “Arunachal Pradesh” was established largely out of three areas belonging to China’s Tibet — Monyul, Loyul, and Lower Tsayul — which are “currently under India’s illegal occupation,” according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. China claims approximately 90,000 square kilometers of the state.

Meanwhile, the Indian government maintains that “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.”

During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Chinese troops temporarily captured part of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, the birthplace of 6th Dalai Lama. Later, China declared a ceasefire and withdrew its troops to its claimed “line of actual control.” In 1987, India declared the founding of the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Yet, both countries’ dispute over the territory has never stopped.

So far, China and India have held 19 rounds of talks on boundary issues; the latest round took place in April 2016.

[virgil]

So, if China had just stayed out of Tibet there wouldn’t be this problem to begin with, right?

[samtheman]

Tibet is the high ground on China’s border with South Asia. No way they would ever have stayed out of Tibet. It’s not in their nature. We can dream about it, but it will always remain just a dream.

I feel very sorry for the Tibetan people. What the Chinese did to them is a crime.

But, there’s nothing we can do about it. Nothing anybody can do about it. Except maybe attempt to shame the Chinese into being a bit more civilized as occupiers.

[chuckee]

Last time that China and India had a border dispute India did not have nukes so China sent in troops. Now India has nukes so now China has decided to talk. What a difference a day makes!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TigerLikesRooster.