The border between the two superpowers, India and China, in Asia, has always been an issue for these two governments. Never specified, it has left both nations to claim the strip of border land as their own, citing a long-standing history to the land that is hotly contested.
In the 1960s, the Sino-Indian war broke out over this land, and the feud that had been brewing between the two countries reached its peak. This war left thousands dead and would give China a small bit of the land they were fighting over, although India would never revoke their claim to the land itself. Since this war, the border became a hot point, requiring constant border patrol and watch in case another conflict would break out.
The scenario lasted for four decades, breaking out in 2020 as tensions would rise and a clash between the two border militaries would break out. This time it would leave less than 50 soldiers dead between the two countries and no clear winners. For four years, the border was highly militarized although there was not another clash during this time as neither wanted to start it.
However, as the two countries’ leaders head to Kazan for the annual BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit, a new development has occurred at the hot border. The two leaders have decided to move forward in the act of disengagement and have called off their troops, establishing a demilitarized zone between the two countries. This points to the completion of the disengagement process that has been slowly going on as tension eases behind the scenes.
Since then, the two leaders have arrived in Russia for the meeting, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that they do plan on meeting in one-on-one talks, Beijing has yet to confirm anything. This is an echo from last years’ BRICS summit as China announced then that they would pursue an effort to de-escalate tensions and bring a peaceful end to this conflict.
This points to how global relations between these two giants have eased in recent years due to many factors, including geopolitical tensions. As India chooses to get closer and more involved in the BRICS alliance, they have grown closer to these nations, which means a need to resolve long-standing issues with their new allies.
It is still unclear what will happen in the future as both countries have yet to release a joint statement on the issue. As information and time passes the people of these countries can only hope for a restored patrolled border at the least, and be in hopes for a defined, mutually agreed upon one.
