Sino-Indian Border Dispute

Abstract

The Sino-Indian border dispute stands as one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century, with a path to a peaceful resolution still unclear. The conflict involves a vast territory, with each side claiming different areas. According to China, the length of the disputed border measures 2,000 km, while India asserts that it encompasses 3,488 km. Tensions surrounding the border have escalated since World War II. Following India’s liberation from British colonial rule and the establishment of a communist government in China, the two nations struggled to delineate their borders. This disagreement ultimately culminated in the Sino-Indian War on October 20, 1962, during which India suffered a significant defeat. Since then, tensions have resulted in periodic clashes between the two sides.

Both China and India have made efforts to establish various peace mechanisms in hopes of resolving the border issue through negotiations, but they have yet to achieve meaningful progress. Compounding the challenges, each country has been increasing military personnel and constructing infrastructure near the border, hindering peaceful coexistence between these two nuclear-armed giants and complicating the resolution of the longstanding dispute.