India's border disputes with China

http://www.economist.com/node/16843717?story_id=16843717
Recently, The Economist published an article entitled “A Himalayan rivalry” regarding the 4,000km of disputed border between northern India and southwest China. While these two Asian giants continue to hold the world’s fastest growing economies, the political interaction between the two remains unsure. The root of contention may lie on the border, where hostile memories of China’s 2-week invasion and take-over of the area in 1962 remains a not-so-distant memory. Although there has not been gunfire since the assault, India has stationed over 100,000 troops in the Northern region, while China inconsistently demands northern Indians to hold Chinese visas when traveling to so-called “Chinese territory”. Though progress to resolve this problem in recent years has been made, it looks as though China is thrown back by improved Indian-American relations and India is not willing to forgo the debated Tawang region—a center of the Tibetan Buddhist culture.

It is evident that geography has a large influence on politics—especially in the context of border disputes. Conflicts that happened 50 years ago are still influencing how two nations (which have developed immensely since then) are interacting with one another today. Although both countries continue to “save face” there is still much hostility. In 2005 after special envoys between India and China met 13 times, a compromised border solution was created; however, soon after China pulled away. Why? It seems that at the same time, India and the US were putting together a nuclear deal that was not favorable to China. China’s fear of westernization (perhaps rightfully so) may have influenced how the border treaty played out, but the nation is yet to win border control over India. The pair remain gridlocked on the issue. And in any case, it appears to be an even match-up as both Asian giants size-up well economically, in geographical size and population. It looks like China has met its match with India. The question remains, is a champion necessary?