The Sino-Indian border issue as a factor for the development of bilateral relations
| Author | Albina Muratbekova |
| DOI | 10.1177/2057891117690453 |
| Published date | 01 March 2018 |
| Date | 01 March 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Research articles |
Research article
The Sino-Indian border issue
as a factor for the development
of bilateral relations
Albina Muratbekova
R.B.Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies, Kazakhstan
Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
Abstract
The border issue between China and India has been prominent since the establishment of dip-
lomatic relations between the two countries. Depending on time, an internal and external situation
has changed, hence the value of disputed territory also shifted. This article shows the development
of the border issue, recent rapprochements, and steps taken to settle the issue.
Keywords
border issue, China–India relations, territorial conflict
Introduction
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 1 January 1950, China and India have gone
through various stages of cooperation and aggression. Today both China and Indi a are Asian
giants, with the second and 11th largest GDPs in th e world, respectively. Both countries are
emerging powers with huge potential and interests. But relations between the Asian dragon and
elephant are not always as good as they could be. One of the main challenges to bilateral coop-
eration is the border issue. The Sino-Indian border dispute has its origins in the time of British and
Russian expansion when Tibet was divided into a buffer zone. The border dispute disrupted
relations and led to a war in 1962, which resulted a period of hostility. Even today, having changed
bilateral relations toward pragmatic cooperation, both countries still feel the consequences of the
war in terms of a trust deficit and development of mutual relations.
This article analyzes the evolution of the territorial claim, the consequences of the dispute, as well
as international and domestic factors that led to the rapprochement of the border settlement. The
Corresponding author:
Albina Muratbekova, R. B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies, Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Al Farabi 77,
Almaty 050078, Kazakhstan.
Email: albina.muratbek@gmail.com
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
2018, Vol. 3(1) 3–12
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/2057891117690453
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