Chinese Incursion in Ladakh: Rationale and Gains
Chinese Incursion in Ladakh: Rationale and Gains
Although for centuries, the Himalayas served as a natural barrier between the Tibetan plateau and the Indian subcontinent, it was also a space of exchange for constant flow of knowledge, traditions and goods transiting up and down from faraway places in Central Asia, China or Mongolia to the entire subcontinent. But the drawing of borders based on modern nation state model so as to define territorial limits of every state has led clashes, conflicts and even war in international relation. The recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh adds another flash point to this debate.
Historical Impression The dispute largely lies on sovereignty over two pieces of territory that are Aksai Chin and disputed territory lies south of the McMahon Line. The border dispute between China and India has colonial roots as China’s selective recognition to the agreements done during British period. In the light of recent Chinese incursion into Ladakh region the focus of this article will be on Aksai Chin. Historically, two events are important and stand key to the claims of both the parties. In 1865 W. H. Johnson, proposed the "Johnson Line", which put Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir. This was the time of the Dungan revolt, when China did not control Xinjiang, so this line was never presented to the Chinese.1 In the 1890s Britain and China were allies and Britain was principally concerned that Aksai Chin not fall into Russian hands. In 1899, when China showed an interest in Aksai Chin, Britain proposed a revised boundary, initially suggested by George Macartney, 2 which put most of Aksai Chin in Chinese territory. This line, known as the MacartneyMacDonald line, is approximately the same as the current Line of Actual Control. Upon independence in 1947, the government of India used the
Although for centuries, the Himalayas served as a natural barrier between the Tibetan plateau and the Indian subcontinent, it was also a space of exchange for constant flow of knowledge, traditions and goods transiting up and down from faraway places in Central Asia, China or Mongolia to the entire subcontinent. But the drawing of borders based on modern nation state model so as to define territorial limits of every state has led clashes, conflicts and even war in international relation. The recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh adds another flash point to this debate.
Historical Impression The dispute largely lies on sovereignty over two pieces of territory that are Aksai Chin and disputed territory lies south of the McMahon Line. The border dispute between China and India has colonial roots as China’s selective recognition to the agreements done during British period. In the light of recent Chinese incursion into Ladakh region the focus of this article will be on Aksai Chin. Historically, two events are important and stand key to the claims of both the parties. In 1865 W. H. Johnson, proposed the "Johnson Line", which put Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir. This was the time of the Dungan revolt, when China did not control Xinjiang, so this line was never presented to the Chinese.1 In the 1890s Britain and China were allies and Britain was principally concerned that Aksai Chin not fall into Russian hands. In 1899, when China showed an interest in Aksai Chin, Britain proposed a revised boundary, initially suggested by George Macartney, 2 which put most of Aksai Chin in Chinese territory. This line, known as the MacartneyMacDonald line, is approximately the same as the current Line of Actual Control. Upon independence in 1947, the government of India used the