Describe about the Indo-Chinese relation since 1962.

Ans.

Introduction:

On 9th October 1963, the Indian government received a letter from Zhou Enlai in which he reiterated the proposal that talks should now be started between the two sides. In March 1964, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike informed India that the Chinese government is ready to vacate seven check posts in Ladakh. 

India said that China should hold direct talks regarding:

1. Indo-Pak War and China-

Since 1960, China had been improving its relations with Pakistan. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, China fully supported Pakistan and termed India the aggressor. In the 1965 India-Pak war, Chinese trucks were supplying arms to Pakistan. On 16th September, when Indian forces entered Pakistan, China gave an ultimatum that "India should withdraw its military outposts illegally built across the border in the past 20 years, else it will face dire consequences."

2. Attack on Indian Areas-

In September 1967, China attacked the Indian area of Nathu La. On 2nd October 1967, Chinese soldiers attacked the Indian post of Cho La. In April 1971, Chinese activities increased again in Nathu La. 

3. Indo-Pak War (1971) and China-

In the 1971 Indo-Pak war, China gave full support to Pakistan. On 10th December 1971, the Chinese People's Daily warned India to either accept the UN General Assembly resolution and stop the war, else it will face a crushing and ignominious defeat.

In 1973, a change was visible in China's attitude:

• (i) China stopped anti-India propaganda along the Sikkim border.
• (ii) On 18th May 1974, when India conducted its first successful underground nuclear test, China did not criticize it, accepting that India now had a major role in South Asia.
• (iii) In April 1971, China appointed an ambassador in New Delhi in the person of Shri K.R. Narayanan. After sometime, China also appointed Huang Hua as its ambassador to India.
• (iv) In October-November 1976, the visit of a Chinese badminton team to India and the visit of an unofficial Indian delegation to China in December 1976 on the occasion of the inauguration of the Kotnis Memorial Hall were visible signs of improving relations between the two countries.
• (v) In March 1977, the Chinese leaders welcomed the installation of the Janata Party government in India. They felt this government will not pursue close ties with Soviet Russia like the previous Congress government.
• (vi) In June 1977, after 15 years, India and China decided to resume trade.
• (vii) From 12th to 18th February 1979, the then Foreign Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited China. In April 1980, Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited Rhodesia to participate in the Republic Day celebrations. There she held talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister Huang. It was clear from the talks that China is keen to improve relations with India.
• (viii) In June 1980, Foreign Ministry Secretary Shri Eric Gonsalves was sent to Beijing. On his return, he reported that the Chinese leaders are indeed interested in improving relations with India.

The Chinese Prime minister Zhao Ziyang visited Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh in June 1981 but maintained silence on the Kashmir issue. Previously, China had always supported Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. 

Talks:

On 26th June 1981, the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister visited India. On 7th December 1981, an Indian delegation went to Beijing to hold talks with China on the border dispute and other issues in bilateral relations.

Between 1962 and 1987, eight rounds of talks were held with China:

(i) First Round: 

After almost 20 years, from 10th to 14th December 1981, talks were held between the two Asian giants India and China to resolve the border dispute and normalize relations. 

(ii) Second Round:

The second round was held in New Delhi in May 1982 between 17th and 20th May.

(iii) Third Round: 

This round was held in Beijing.

The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary Shri K.S. Vajpayee. He had gone on a tour to Singapore and Malaysia in early January. There he held consultations to prepare for the Non-aligned Summit. China openly supported Prince Norodom Sihanouk's coalition government in Cambodia. China also criticized India's decision to not invite Prince Sihanouk to the Summit. 

(iv) Fourth Round:

This round was held in New Delhi on 24th October 1988. It went on for 6 days but the representatives of both countries could not reach any decision.

(v) Fifth Round: 

This round was held in Beijing in September 1984 but still no progress was made. In fact, China insisted on its claims over Aksai Chin and the 20000 sq km of territory occupied by it in 1962. This is not acceptable to India. 

Between October 1984 and October 1985, the following important events occurred:

• (i) In September-October 1984, the new maps published in Beijing showed parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, USSR, Burma and Vietnam as China's historical territories. The introduction to the maps stated that all people living in these areas should be considered Chinese. 

• (ii) On 3rd November 1984, the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Li Peng came to India to attend Mrs. Gandhi's funeral. He met Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and conveyed China's goodwill and desire for cooperation. 

• (iii) On 5th April 1985, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expressed his desire to visit China soon to the Chinese ambassador in India Mr Liang.

• (iv) In May 1985, it was reported that China has decided to establish 10 TV broadcasting stations in India's northern border provinces of Ladakh, Kargil, Komi, Rekaye etc. Programs broadcast from these stations can be seen in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, northern Assam, J&K, Sikkim, Ladakh and Bhutan. 

• (v) In June 1985, China proposed to India that it open trade consulates in Lhasa and Shanghai in exchange for China opening similar consulates in Calcutta and Mumbai. 

• (vi) In talks held between Rajiv Gandhi and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang in New York in October 1985, both leaders expressed eagerness to quickly resolve the border dispute. 

(vii) Sixth Round: 

The sixth round was held from 4th to 6th November 1985. The only achievement of this round was resolution of the dispute over allotment of land for the Indian Embassy in Beijing. China agreed to allot 3400 sq m of land for the Indian embassy. 

(viii) Seventh Round:

The seventh round in Beijing from 21st to 23rd July 1986 ended without any progress. The issue of Chinese soldiers' intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh was also not resolved. China said the area lies north of the Line of Actual Control and thus falls in its territory. China claimed about 90,000 sq km of territory in Arunachal Pradesh.

On 24th May 1988, it was hoped talks at the ministerial level between India and China can be held. Outstanding issues like border dispute and enhancing cooperation in various fields were to be discussed in this meeting. Rajiv Gandhi was to visit China in December 1988. On 27th September 1988, Rajiv Gandhi clarified in a press conference that no talks can be held with China about ceding any portion of Indian territory. 

Conclusion:

It should not be assumed that the dispute will be resolved soon. Both sides understand this. In fact, on the border dispute, the principles outlined by the Chinese Foreign Minister were largely the same as what the Chinese army has been repeating over the past two decades. Yes, they were not as harshly worded as before. Dr. B.B. Singh estimates that the Chinese leaders want to keep the border dispute embroiled in a long series of talks, while developing relations in other areas, especially trade and technological cooperation. The coming days will test the veracity of this estimate. 

China cooperates with Pakistan's nuclear weapon program and provides missiles and missile technology to Pakistan. This complicates the security situation in South Asia. Defence Minister George Fernandes of the Vajpayee government said in 1998 that the progenitor of Pakistan's Ghauri missile is China. He later also said that understating India's problems with China is not in India's interest. In the current context, it can be said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President are bringing the two countries together under globalization and liberalization policies. Both heads of state want the relations between the two countries to become even more cordial in the near future. China had created a problem for India by sending soldiers to Doklam, but on September 3, 2017 at the BRICS summit, the heads of state of India and China agreed on the return of soldiers from Doklam through dialogue. This is considered a diplomatic success for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 11-12 October 2019, the Chinese President came to Mahabalipuram in Chennai and participated in informal talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the first summit meeting between the leaders of the two countries was held in April 2018 in Wuhan city of China.

In short, it can be said that if the India-China border settlement is resolved, it will undoubtedly have a serious impact on international politics and regional politics and will have far-reaching consequences.