China-India Border Dispute by Tyler Chiu

Works Cited

20247011 — 2024-01-18 17:31:38 UTC

Buckley, Chris, and Ellen Barry. “China Tells India That It Won’t Back down in Border Dispute.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Aug. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/world/asia/china-india-border-tensions.html.

“Why We Should All Worry about the China-India Border Dispute.” United States Institute of Peace, 18 Dec. 2023, www.usip.org/publications/2023/05/why-we-should-all-worry-about-china-india-border-dispute.

Siddiqui, Imran Ahmed. “Lac: China Builds Concrete Towers with CCTV Cameras to Watch India.” India, Telegraph India, 14 July 2021, www.telegraphindia.com/india/lac-china-builds-concrete-towers-with-cctv-cameras-to-watch-india/cid/1822226.

“India-China Dispute: The Border Row Explained in 400 Words.” BBC News, BBC, 14 Dec. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53062484.

“Thin Ice in the Himalayas: Handling the India-China Border Dispute.” Crisis Group, 14 Nov. 2023, www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/india-china/334-thin-ice-himalayas-handling-india-china-border-dispute.

Indian Troops near their border with China

20247011 — 2024-01-19 17:56:53 UTC

Along the LAC border of China and India, there are many rivers, lakes, and snowcaps. This means that the landscape can change and move, shifting the perceived border. This causes tension and issues between the two nations. If there was an officially demarcated line, much dispute would be prevented since claims to extra land would not be as abundant.

Indian soldiers are seen in Tawang Valley, 2009

20247011 — 2024-01-19 18:04:42 UTC

A large problem with the border conflict between China and India is the militarization of the border. This only causes for further tension. Even though the countries speak militarily about peace, occasional conflict outbreaks will reset their progress and exacerbate the tension. This photo, taken in 2009 also demonstrates that the issue between these two powerful countries is not new.

China and India build towers with CCTV cameras to monitor each other's movements.

20247011 — 2024-01-19 18:17:38 UTC

At the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China has installed towers with CCTV cameras to watch India's actions and movements. There was a mutual understanding between the countries that there would not be construction of permanent buildings between 10-15 km of the LAC, but China has built watchtowers, violating this agreement. To counter this, India has installed wooden poles with cameras of their own to watch China's army's movements. These actions reverse the direction of peacemaking that the countries strive for.

Origin of conflict

20247011 — 2024-01-19 18:28:08 UTC

Conflict between the countries goes back far in history, and the countries even fought a war regarding the disputed Aksai Chin region. Following they made attempts for peace, even establishing a Line of Actual Control (LAC) to establish rules and prevent conflict. Although the regions are not very large, they have much geopolitical influence. Over time, China became a more powerful country and their confidence has led them to make moves along this region and LAC, which makes India nervous and reactive.

China and India bolstering infrastructure along border

20247011 — 2024-01-19 18:34:27 UTC

China has built barracks and infrastructure in the Galwan Valley, making their presence be felt more. In response to this, India has redirected around 50,000 troops to the LAC, and began the construction of 73 roads into the Arunachal Pradesh area. Actions from both of these countries just shows to the other that they are ready for conflict, as they make it easier to send reinforcements to the contested areas.