Tawang in Arunachal – China gets angry, again!

India sticks to its guns and allows the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang in Arunachal, which China finds unacceptable!

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Tawang in Arunachal – China gets angry, again!

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Two giants, unmatched! Both China and India are two of the fastest growing economies attracting a tremendous amount of global attention. Both have vouched to enhance their bilateral /multilateral co-operation. However, the biggest impediment that the two countries face on their path of improved bilateral ties is the massive border conflict between them.

Dalai Lama : After the Chinese Civil War (1927-36, and again 1946-50), the People's Republic of China (PRC) incorporated Tibet in 1950 and negotiated the 17 Point Agreement with the newly enthroned 14th Dalai Lama's government, affirming the People's Republic of China's sovereignty but granting the area autonomy. After the Dalai Lama's government fled to Dharamsala, India, during the 1959 Tibetan Rebellion, it established a rival government-in-exile. China has been upset ever since, and has throttled any nation that has allowed the Dalai Lama to visit them! Recently, when the Tibetan spiritual leader visited Arunachal Pradesh in April 2017, to which China protested vehemently. Chinese foreign ministry summoned Indian Ambassador Vijay Gokhale and lodged angry protest on the visit. China considers the Dalai Lama as a separatist force, unsettling peace.

It’s all mine, not yours! China claims India’s Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and refers to the region as South Tibet or Zangnan. The border issues have escalated in the recent past with the frequent intrusion by Chinese troops in the Indian Territory.

Xinjiang to Tibet : During the 1950s, the People's Republic of China built a 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) road connecting Xinjiang and western Tibet, of which 179 kilometres (111 mi) ran south of the Johnson Line through the Aksai Chin region claimed by India.

The 1962 War : China and India fought a border war in 1962 and the border issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh has since escalated and no resolution has evolved. Why is China interested in claiming Arunachal Pradesh? What is China’s ulterior motive behind it?

Tibet is mine, so Arunachal is mine! China bases its claim on Arunachal Pradesh by citing reason that there existed historical ties between the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh and the Lhasa Monastery of Tibet and hence, since Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China so should be Arunachal Pradesh.

Tawang’s importance : Arunachal Pradesh and particularly the region of Tawang holds a place of major strategic importance in the Chinese context. Ar.Pr. provides security to the Kingdom of Bhutan in its entire eastern flank. If Tawang is absorbed by China, then Bhutan would be surrounded by China on both its flank which would be unfavorable for India’s security and very alluring for China.

One India policy! China’s aggressive stance towards the region of Arunachal Pradesh and principally towards Tawang is a threat to India’s security and sovereignty. In 2014, India proposed China should acknowledge "One India" policy to resolve the border dispute.

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