Recent Developments in India - China Relations.

Why in News?

India and China are communicating again instead of ignoring each other. This raises the question of whether they will return to their pre-Galwan “normal” relationship or if tensions will rise again.

What are the India’s Engagements with China?

• Engagement & Confidence Building (1988–2019)
  • 1993 & 1996 - Agreements for peace along LAC.
  • 2003 - India recognized Tibet, China accepted Sikkim.
  • 2005 - Strategic Partnership Agreement signed.
  • 2008 -2019 - Economic ties flourished; China became India’s largest trade partner.
• Border Tensions & Strategic Competition (2020–Present)
  • Doklam (2017) - Standoff over Bhutanese territory.
  • Galwan (2020) - Deadliest clash since 1962; 20 Indian soldiers martyred.
  • Ongoing Standoff - Military buildup, disengagement talks.
  • Economic Actions - India banned Chinese apps, tightened FDI rules, reduced import dependency.
  • Geopolitical Competition - India strengthens Quad ties; China expands in South Asia & Indian Ocean.

What are the Four Pillars Since 1988 in India China Relations?

• Summitry (Regular Diplomatic Meetings) - High level meetings between leaders are essential for managing relations.
  • Wuhan Summit (2018) and Mamallapuram Summit (2019) to reduce tensions and increase cooperation.
  • Regular interactions foster direct communication and engagement.
• Border Negotiations- Both nations have engaged in talks to resolve territorial disputes.
  • Agreements like the 1993 and 1996 Border Peace Accords aim to maintain peace along the LAC.
  • Special Representatives dialogues and Working Mechanisms address border issues.
• Confidence Building Measures - Focus on reducing military tensions and ensuring stability along the LAC.
  • Measures include no use of force policy, military hotlines, and joint military exercises.
  • The 2020 Galwan Clash exposed limitations of CBMs, leading to renewed tensions.
• People to People (P2P) Ties - Strengthening cultural, educational, and economic exchanges.
  • Initiatives include tourism, student exchanges, and trade partnerships.
  • P2P ties have weakened due to border conflicts and security concerns post 2020.

What are the Military and Strategic Issues with China?

• Border Disputes & Military Clashes – LAC is the de facto border between India and China.
  • Violent Clash - In June 2020, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops, marking the 1st fatal clash in over 40 years and worsening relations.
  • December 2022 - Troops clashed near Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh without fatalities, highlighting ongoing tensions along the LAC.

• Strategic Military Developments- China has enhanced border infrastructure with roads, airstrips, and military installations for quick troop mobilization.
  • India is also improving its infrastructure for better defense readiness.
  • Upgrades to the G219 highway - running parallel to the LAC, improve military logistics and rapid troop movement in Aksai Chin.
  •  Advancements in military technology – by china includes  new generation warplanes, raise concerns in India about the growing strategic gap.
• Diplomatic Engagements & Confidence - Diplomatic talks are held to reduce tensions; recent meetings stressed mutual support, but the border dispute remains unresolved.
  • 21^st Round of India - China Border Talks (2023) emphasized stability and peace with no major breakthroughs.
  • Various agreements - such as the 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, are in place to maintain peace, though their effectiveness has been questioned after recent clashes.
• Geopolitical Dynamics
• Alliances and Partnerships - India's involvement in groupings like the Quad (U.S., Japan, Australia & India) is viewed by China with suspicion, while China's Belt and Road Initiative and its ties with Pakistan are concerns for India.
• Trade Relations - Despite strategic tensions, bilateral trade has grown, with China being 1 of India's largest trading partners.
  • However, trade imbalances and security concerns have led India to implement measures such as banning certain Chinese apps and tightening foreign direct investment regulations.
  • Example - Tightened FDI Rules (2020)

• India made government approval mandatory for FDI from countries sharing land borders, primarily targeting Chinese investments in Indian tech startups.

What are the Measures to Improve Indo-China relations?

• Wuhan (2018) and Mamallapuram (2019) - Summits helped ease tensions. Expanding such summits to include mid-level officials could enhance communication.
• Border Peace Agreements - 1993 & 1996 maintained LAC peace. Strengthening these with technology driven CBMs like shared surveillance could reduce tensions.
• China a key trading partner for India- Aiming for balanced trade, reducing the trade deficit, and investing in joint ventures would stabilize relations.
• Expanding educational exchanges -tourism, and digital platforms can improve mutual understanding and perceptions.
• BRICS and SCO- Can enhance Cooperation & can address global issues like climate change, health, and sustainability.
• Establishing regular dialogues - Or multilateral forums on security concerns, including Afghanistan and the South China Sea, can prevent conflicts.

What Lies ahead?

• Since 1988, Indo-China relations have maintained balance through summitry, border negotiations, and confidence-building measures.
• Improving ties requires sustained diplomacy, border resolution, economic and cultural exchanges, and addressing security concerns.
• A stable future can be achieved through mutual respect, cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.

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Reference

Indian Express | India China Relations