China has built a 400-meter bridge that facilitates rapid troop movements between the north and south banks of Pangong Lake in a region it has held for 60 years.
- In response, India is constructing the 4.1-kilometer Shinkun La tunnel to ensure all-weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Border Dispute between India and China:
Background:
- The border, spanning approximately 3,488 kilometres, involves major disputed regions such as Aksai Chin in the western sector and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector.
Western Sector (Ladakh):
- Aksai Chin is administered by China as part of its Xinjiang region but is considered by India as part of its Union Territory of Ladakh.
- This region gains strategic importance due to its proximity to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and as a potential military route.
- The disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in this sector is highlighted by China’s claim on the McDonald Line (1899) versus India’s claim based on the Johnson Line (1865).
Middle Sector (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand):
- This sector is largely undisputed.
Eastern Sector (Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim):
- China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” and claims it entirely, while India administers it as a northeastern state, viewing it as an integral part of its territory.
- The LAC here aligns with the MacMahon Line from the 1914 Simla Convention, which China does not recognize.
- LAC Discrepancies: No mutually agreed upon LAC exists in certain areas, with India recognizing it as 3,488 km long, whereas China acknowledges only about 2,000 km.
Historical Military Standoffs:
- The border dispute has seen several standoffs, including the significant conflicts during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 2017 Doklam standoff, the 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley, and the 2022 confrontation in Tawang.
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Frequently Asked Question:
What is the significance of the 400 meter bridge constructed by China near Pangong Lake?
The bridge allows rapid troop movements between the north and south banks of the lake in a region China has held for 60 years.
How is India responding to China’s 400 meter bridge construction?
India is constructing the 4.1-kilometer Shinkun La tunnel to ensure all-weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
What are the major disputed regions in the border conflict between India and China?
The disputed regions include Aksai Chin in the western sector and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector, spanning approximately 3,488 kilometres.
Which region in the Western sector is administered by China but claimed by India?
Aksai Chin is administered by China as part of Xinjiang but is considered by India to be part of its Union Territory of Ladakh.
Why does the Western sector, specifically Aksai Chin, gain strategic importance?
Aksai Chin is strategically important due to its proximity to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its potential military route significance.