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Geopolitics of China: How is the Sino-Indian relationship?  

The Sino-Indian relationship is characterized by much mistrust. There are massive political fault lines between the two countries. A border war between the neighboring states has been raging for decades. In addition, there are disputes over water supply. Geopolitically, both countries pursue different goals and negotiate with other partners.     

Officially, formal relations between China and India have existed since 1950, when India recognized the People’s Republic of China as the country’s official representative and ended relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan. Historically, however, Sino-Indian relations date back to the 1st century. On the one hand, because of the exchange of goods via the New Silk Road, and on the other hand, because Buddhism was passed down from India to China.    

How big is China compared to India?  

China is almost three times the size of India. China has an area of about 9.6 million square kilometers, making it the fourth largest country on earth. India measures about 3.3 million square kilometers, putting it in seventh place. By comparison, the largest country in the world in terms of area is Russia by a wide margin (17.1 million square kilometers).  

China and India are about the same size in terms of population. China has 1.4 billion people, India 1.38 billion. Both countries are by far the most populous countries on earth. In third place comes the USA, which is home to around 330 million people. So not even a quarter.   

Do China and India share a border?  

India shares a border with China in the north. There lies the autonomous region of Tibet, which shares 3,380 border kilometers with India. However, there have been disputes about the course of the border for decades, which is why there is still no official course of the border. In the north, i.e. in the border area with China, the Himalayan Mountains form a natural border.   

Bhutan is wedged between China and India. The border triangle is also highly disputed politically. For example, China refers to the Indian state of Arunachai Pradesh in eastern Bhutan as southern Tibet. In total, India has six direct neighbors. Pakistan, China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Until 1949, India also shared a border with Afghanistan. Since then, however, Kashmir has been controlled by Pakistan.   

What is the Indo-Chinese border war about? 

On October 20, 1962, the Indo-Chinese Border War broke out. It ended as early as November 21. However, there were no significant border shifts or an official settlement of the conflict. In May 2020, the conflict broke out again. The background is the occupation of India by Great Britain in the mid-19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain also placed Tibet under its protectorate because the Europeans were afraid that the area could be taken by Russia. The Dalai Lama then fled to Mongolia.  

The Shimla Conference was held in 1914 between Great Britain, Tibet and China. In it, the so-called McMahon Line was designated as the border between India and China. However, China never ratified the treaty. In 1947 India became independent from Great Britain, and in 1949 the People’s Republic of China was founded. As early as 1950, China invaded Tibet and the Dalai Lama fled again. This time to India.   

What was the Course of the Indo-Chinese border war?  

On October 20, 1962, Chinese soldiers crossed the McMahon Line, triggering the actual India-China border war. By the time of the cease-fire on November 21, 1962, about 2,000 people had been killed. The war continues to have geopolitical repercussions to this day. China concluded an agreement with Pakistan and continues to support the country in its efforts to become a nuclear power. India, in turn, rearmed its army with the help of the Soviet Union.   

It was not until June 18, 2006 that an agreement was reached between India and China. An old trade route in the Himalayas was to form the border between the two countries from then on. Since then, however, there have been regular conflicts. In 2013, Chinese soldiers invaded the border region again. In 2016, India had tanks stationed in the region. In June 2020, twenty Indian soldiers died in a fight with Chinese.   

China and India: Water shortage in the Himalayas  

The India-China relationship is strained by a dispute over drinking water from the Himalayas. India’s water supply depends on the Brahmaputra. It is one of the longest rivers on earth and flows into the Ganges. It flows through China, India and Bangladesh. Crucially, it rises in the Chinese territory of the Himalayas.   

The People’s Republic of China itself has to struggle with droughts and water shortages. Especially in the northeast of the country. The South-North Water Transfer Project is designed to help. It diverts water from the Himalayas toward Beijing, which in turn leads to water shortages in India and Bangladesh. Experts question its usefulness, as enormous amounts of water would evaporate during the transfer. The construction costs would also lead to very high water prices.  

What about China, India and the New Silk Road?   

India is not a partner country of China in the development of the New Silk Road. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major infrastructure project of the People’s Republic that has been under construction since 2013. It aims to create new sea and land routes to speed up global trade. It is a prestige project of the Chinese Communist Party. With the exception of Bhutan, all of India’s neighboring countries are involved. India opposes the project and is seeking alternatives.   

India also did not sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This is a rather superficial free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region. It involves China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Although there are tensions and reservations between many of these countries, they wanted to counterbalance the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).   

What were the consequences of India-China tensions for the EU?  

China’s economic rise and the Communist Party‘s aggressive expansionist policies are bringing India and the European Union closer together. Both are seeking alternatives to trade with the People’s Republic. A trade agreement between the EU and India is intended to help. Import duties are to be lowered and infrastructure projects with European participation in India are to be pushed forward.   

A major role is played by India’s commitment to democracy and adherence to multilateralism, explained Green MEP reinhard Bütikofer. “And that is all the more important because we now have to experience that our northeastern neighbor China is going in the opposite direction to us in all respects. Acting as a systemic rival with aggressive posturing,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic.     

What is the EU-India connectivity partnership about? 

The partnership between the EU and India is therefore also a geopolitical project. The aim is to create a counterweight to the world power China. This is why the EU-India Connectivity Partnership is currently being developed. Similar to the New Silk Road, it also includes major infrastructure projects. The aim is for Europe to present a more united front and become more visible in India.  

Currently, eight German infrastructure projects with a total value of 1.7 billion euros are being implemented in India alone. These involve the construction of substations, power lines and a metro line. David McAllister, Chairman of the EU Parliament‘s Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasizes that connectivity would have a geopolitical role.   

What are China’s geopolitics in the Indian Ocean?  

The presence of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean is another point of contention between India and the People’s Republic. India claims the area between the Horn of Africa on one side and the Andaman Sea on the other, and as far as the entrance to the Strait of Malacca. However, important Chinese maritime trade routes also pass through here. China wants to protect them from piracy.   

Because China depends on oil imports from the Gulf states, the People’s Republic has bought or built a large number of ports that are lined up like a string of pearls along this trade route, which is why they are also called “strings of pearls.” The presence of Chinese warships also worries the United States. Together with India, Japan and Australia, they hold regular naval maneuvers.   

Tear test for Sino-Indian relationship  

Because of the tensions between China and India, both economies are looking for new trading partners. Global projects such as the New Silk Road hold additional potential for conflict. The trade agreements concluded are a clear geopolitical sign. Table.Media’s editorial team reports on what developments they will take.