India and China share a total boundary of around 4,050 km, divided into three sectors, across LAC.
Jammu and Kashmir (western region), Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (Middle region), Sikkim and Arunachal pradesh (Eastern region), share their boundaries with China.
There is no dispute in the middle sector, as India standoff at higher altitude in that region. In last few weeks, the dispute over Ladakh boundary has heated up.
Cartographic Aggression of China
Recently China issued a new Map, in which it expanded the area by shifting old Line of Actual Control. China claims to have the Aksai chin area under their control, by shifting the line of action in map.
Doklam issue
In June 2017, the Indian troops thwarted Chinese attempts to build a road in this area, which constitutes the trijunction between the three countries (including Nepal) and is close to India’s Siliguri corridor. China wants to capture the Chicken neck area to take control over Siliguri region to North Eastern States of India.
The dispute region is very close to India’s Siliguri corridor which connects the seven northern states to the Indian mainland.
India has also taken a measure to stop this aggression by working on Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal border, also known as BBIN corridor. In case aggression occurs in Siliguri region, we will have another area to protect our north-eastern states.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Recently, China has also blocked the road from Nathula pass from which the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra used to take place, mentioned as one of the important check-points to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Now, Indian tourists have to go through the Uttarakhand to Dorchan center which is Indian route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Geo strategic nature of China
It refers to economic and defensive strategy plan to cover Indian ocean by building different ports and string their communication band to Sudan port. This includes “The string of Pearls” which is a alarming situation to India, to protect it’s boundaries across the Indian Ocean.
What is “String of Perls” theory?
It is a geo political theory related to Chinese intentions in the Indian Ocean region. It refers to the network of Chinese Military and Commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication, which extend from Chinese mainland to Sudan port.
To counter this Chinese hegemony, India has taken an initiative of Quadrilateral grouping to be protected from China, including four countries, that is, United States Of America, Japan, India and Australia.
In response to “String of Pearls”, India has built a “String of Flowers” by placing Indian port in response to Chinese port, through the area of Indian Ocean.
What is “String of Flowers”?
Since 2015, agreements have been signed by India to develop Infrastructure on Agalega Islands in Mauritius and Assumption Island of Seychelles.
River Dispute
India and China also have dispute over Brahmaputra river, which originates in Tibet, as the ‘Yarlung Tsangpo’ and flows down to India and further enters Bangladesh, where it joins the Ganges and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
India and China, in 2006, set up an expert level mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on sharing flood season hydrological data, emergency managment, and several other issues regarding Trans-border rivers. Hydrological data of the river is shared by China, under a MOU signed in October 2013, during the monsoon season, between 15 May and 15 October. The data is mainly of the water level of rivers to alert the downstream countries in case of floods.
In the year 2017 monsoon season, India did not receive any hydrological data. Beijing has constructed several Hydropower Dams on river, which can be a panic situation to India in times of war.
