Sino-Indian Relations refer to the bilateral relations between People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India. Over the last decade our relationship has been cordial, yet there border disputes and an economic competition which has often strained our relations.
Recent Developments 21st Meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China
9th Annual Defence & Security Dialogue
Wuhan Informal Summit 2018 The 1st Informal Summit between our Hon’ble PM and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping was held on 27th to 28th April, 2018 in Wuhan. The purpose of this meeting was to exchange views on overarching issues of bilateral and global importance and to elaborate their respective visions and priorities for national development in the context of current and future situations.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
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The two countries jointly expounded the Panchsheel (Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence) in 1954. The India-China conflict in 1962 led to a serious setback in bilateral relations.In 1993, Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity was signed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China Border Areas during the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s visit to China. Since, then there has been several instances where Chinese extremism can be seen in terms of cross-border firing incidences, boundary violations, etc. Thus, as per recent context the Sino-Indian Relations is amidst a mix of competition and cooperation.
One Belt, One Road, One Big Mistake
Belt & Road Initiatives
One Belt, One Road, One Blockade
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How will it be implemented?
Why it is a Big Mistake?
South China Sea Dispute
What is Nine dash Line?
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The Verdict
Impact
India’s Response
What is the Significance for India?
China-India Water Disputes
The dispute between India and China is mainly regarding the Brahmaputra River flowing through the two countries. Chinese efforts to divert the water resources of the Brahmaputra River away from India towards Taklamakan Desert worsens the situation that has remained tense since the 1962 Indo-China war. This will increase water scarcity as well as the likelihood of floods, impact agrarian livelihoods and strain the fragile equilibrium between the two Asian giants.
Sharing of Hydrological Data
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China Enjoys Unique Riparian Status
China has established a hydro-hegemony unparalleled on any continent by annexing Tibetan Plateau in 1951, the starting place of major international rivers. Another sprawling territory Beijing forcibly absorbed, Xinjiang, is the source of the transnational Irtysh and Ili Rivers.
Sino-Indian Border Dispute
India shares total boundary of around 3,488 km with China (i.e. 2nd largest after Bangladesh). The Sino-Indian border is generally divided into three sectors namely: Western Sector, Central Sector, and the Eastern Sector. Five states .i.e. J&K, H.P., Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share border with China.
Conflicting Stands on the Border Dispute
Bilateral Trade
For the year 2017, bilateral trade increased by 20.3% year-on-year to reach US$ 84.41 billion, with India’s exports rebounding to US$ 16.34 billion registering positive growth of 38.9% year-on-year after 3 years’ continuous decline. India’s imports from China grew by 16.5% to US$ 68.03 billion.
Composition of Trade
Trade Deficit
Doklam Stand-off
Tactical Perception
Bhutan Angle
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Bilateral Investment
According to Ministry of Commerce of China, Chinese investments in India between January-December 2017 were to the tune of US$289.98 million and Cumulative Chinese investment in India till the end of December 2017 amount to US$4.747 billion. Cumulative Indian investment in China till September 2017 is US$ 851.91 million.
Cultural Exchanges
India-China cultural exchanges date back to many centuries and there is some evidence that conceptual and linguistic exchanges existed in 1500-1000 B.C. between the Shang-Zhou civilization and the ancient Vedic civilization. During first, second and third centuries A.D. several Buddhist pilgrims and scholars travelled to China on the historic “silk route”.
Kashyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna made the White Horse monastery at Luoyang their abode. Ancient Indian monk-scholars such as Kumarajiva, Bodhidharma and Dharmakshema contributed to the spread of Buddhism in China. Similarly, Chinese pilgrims also undertook journeys to India, the most famous among them being Fa Xian and Xuan Zang.
India’s Soft Power Outreach
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