What is the news?
A Chinese special representative, in a recent interview, said if India would compromise on this Arunachal Pradesh track, then Beijing would make similar compromises in the western sector.
What is the Chinese stand?
- Referring specifically to Tawang, a town in Arunachal, the representative said Tawang is inalienable from China's Tibet in terms of cultural background and administrative jurisdiction.
- He asserted that China was not a signatory of the Simla Accord of June 3, 1914, which established the McMahon line in the eastern sector.
- China is of the view that even British respected China`s jurisdiction over Tawang and admitted that Tawang was part of China's Tibet.
- It believes that the Simla Accord, as well as the McMahon Line which it created, are not only unfair and illegitimate, but also illegal and invalid.
What is India’s position?
- India said it was better to permanently close the boundary dialogue rather than Beijing raising the issue of Tawang.
- India also said it would assume that China was not interested in settling the Line of Actual Control dispute if Tawang was ever brought to the table.
- Given the importance of Tawang in the four Buddhist schools in Tibet, particularly the Gelug-pa school to which the 14th Dalai Lama belongs, India would never give it up to China.
- Further it will have to go through a constitutional amendment requiring the nod of two-thirds of Parliament, which will be politically disastrous for the government that moves the proposal.
Why the Chinese stand is a concern?
- After 1962 war, Chinese withdrew behind the McMahon demarcation in the eastern sector but stuck to its positions in west.
- So, further compromise would mean that the boundary would move from Kunlun to Karakoram watershed.
- The Chinese interlocutors during the border talks conveyed that India would have to make concessions on both sides for a boundary settlement as by now the eastern sector had become important for Beijing.
- The fact is that the Chinese position on boundary resolution has been shifting depending on Bejing’s strategic ambitions.
- Beijing is also aggressive in its demands, be it on the “One-China policy”, the status of the Dalai Lama, the South China Sea, Masood Azhar’s designation as terrorist or membership of the UNSC.
- The recent interview further deepens Indian suspicion about China as the latter refuses to budge over any issue raised by India.
Source: Hindustan Times
