Why China Keeps Talking Tough About the Border
India and China have a long-running disagreement over their border, especially Arunachal Pradesh. India says Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, while China claims parts of the state as its own.
Recently, India officially used Indian names for 27 places in Arunachal. This came after China repeatedly gave these places Chinese names. India’s message was clear: names cannot change which country a place belongs to.
India and China have tried to improve their relationship after the serious border clash at Galwan in 2020. But the border problem is still a major source of tension.
One reason is that China’s leaders see questions about its territory and sovereignty as extremely important. Three issues are especially sensitive in Chinese politics: Tibet, Taiwan and the India-China border. Chinese leaders and powerful groups within the country often use these issues to show that they are defending China’s interests.
China may say that the border disagreement should not affect its entire relationship with India. But its leaders also face strong nationalist feelings at home. Taking a softer position on the border could make them look weak.
This is why China continues to use strong language about Arunachal. India therefore needs to remain firm. If one country could change a border simply by giving places new names or making new claims, borders everywhere could become uncertain.
The basic message from India is simple: Arunachal is Indian, and no country can change an international border by itself.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
