Negotiation Efforts in Asia: India-China border issue

The Sino-Indian boundary question was left over from history. In 1914, the British colonialists concocted the illegal "McMahon Line", which was not recognized by all previous Chinese central governments. After its independence in 1947, India inherited British occupation of part of Chinese territory and extended this to the "McMahon Line" in 1953. Based on its revised map, in 1959, India brazenly laid territorial claim to the Aksaiqin prefecture of Xinjiang, China. In October 1962, the Sino-Indian border war broke out.

Since then, there have been talks held by the two countries, but neither one has been willing to budge. In 2004, when Vajapee was in power, he suggested that each side send a “special representative” who would work out the issue and the world though that there was hope of the issue being resolved. However, nothing came out of it as China was too busy dealing with other issues with Korea.

Vajapee is one of the rare Prime Ministers to take such bold steps towards the negotiation of territories. Other Ministers before him have not because they fear that they will be working against what Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India stated in his speech; that India’s boundaries are fixed, final and non-negotiable.
Most of the time, much like the present situation, the government had refused to hold talks with China regarding the border issue. One of the areas of dispute is Arunachal Pradesh, and to the Indians it is their soil, but the Chinese refuse to accept it. While they do not act on it, they are not going to let go anytime soon. The Indian government is also feeling the heat from its opposition party, know for its ruthless attacks and ready acquisitions. They would say “You’re selling out sacred Indian soil”, leaving the ruling party helpless against the mobs of civilians who are known for their pride and patriotism in their country.

China had in the past informally proposed an east-west 'package deal' under which if India made territorial concessions in Aksai Chin (in the western sector), China would reciprocate and renounce its claims in the eastern sector (the area corresponding to Arunachal Pradesh). However India refused this offer, stating that it would not compromise on any of its territories.

Both countries are involved in talks and close relations in all fields like trade, all except for the border issue. They both acknowledge the fact that they need to have close and string ties since they are the two biggest and fastest growing economic powers in the world, and this can only be achieved if they solve the border issue. India in the meanwhile refuses to budge, so till then they will continue to push away having to deal with the border issue. Wonder how long that will last!