1. Lead: Can India and China Coexist Peacefully?
[The Hindu] | GS-II
Context:
The lead article describes the present phase of India–China ties as ‘managed coexistence’ — engagement alongside border tension and strategic mistrust — and argues that conflict is neither inevitable nor desirable.
Key Highlights:
• Legacy of mistrust: 1962 war, disputes in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, China’s rejection of the McMahon Line and the 2020 Galwan clash.
• 1988 template: Rajiv Gandhi’s visit and meeting with Deng Xiaoping delinked the boundary question from wider cooperation.
• 2005 agreement: Political Parameters and Guiding Principles: no use or threat of force; settled populations to be protected in any boundary settlement.
• Quad factor: Closer India–US ties deepen Chinese suspicion; India must retain strategic autonomy.
• Military balance: PLA modernisation is real, but Himalayan terrain favours defence; India must invest in border infrastructure and intelligence.
Prelims Corner:
| Term / Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| McMahon Line | Drawn at the Simla Convention, 1914 (Britain–Tibet); not accepted by China. |
| LAC | Line of Actual Control — ~3,488 km, divided into western, middle and eastern sectors. |
| Galwan | Tributary of the Shyok river in Ladakh; site of June 2020 clash. |
| SR talks | Special Representatives mechanism on the boundary question (2003). |
| WMCC | Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India–China Border Affairs (2012). |
Mains Facts:
| Dimension | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Significance | Stable ties matter for trade, supply chains (APIs, electronics) and regional order. |
| Concerns | Trade deficit, Brahmaputra dams, China–Pakistan nexus, infrastructure build-up along the LAC. |
| Way Forward | Sustained dialogue, CBMs, de-escalation after disengagement, deterrence through capability. |
| Probable Question (GS-II) | 'Competition without conflict' — assess the prospects of India–China relations after the 2024 border patrolling arrangement. (250 words |
