CHANAKAYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

NAYAYA NAGAR, MITHAPUR, PATNA- 800001

LEGAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH METHEDOLOGY

TOPIC
INDO - CHINA RELATIONS
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

NAME: SANDEEP SINGH BHANDARI Mr. VIJYANT SINHA

ROLL NO: 1968 FACULTY OF LEGAL RESEARCH

SEMESTER: 1st AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 INTRODUCTION

India and China, today, account for over one third of the
world’s population, and are fast growing economies, gaining
significance on the global stage. The relations between these
two nations are thus significant for the future of the
international system. Despite a rich history of ties in the past,
the period since 1949 has seen an evolution in relations in a
period of nuclear power and unprecedented economic growth
for both countries. Moving from relations plagued by numerous
border disputes and military tension to one of greater economic
cooperation and relative peace, Sino-Indian relations have seen
huge progress. However, along with the increased cooperation
through bilateral and multilateral initiatives, the growth of both
countries looms as a threat to one another. Regional tensions in
South Asia, between China and Pakistan on one hand, and
India on the other, continue. On the world scale, China has
increasingly grown to become the biggest challenge to US
unipolarity. Strengthening ties between the United States of
America and India add to China’s wariness regarding India’s
growth. It’s blocking of Indian interests on international
forums, is an inkling of the tension that continues. Thus,
strands of cooperation and competition both exist
simultaneously. However deep-rooted historical disputes and
conflicts, along with their nuclear power and growing
economies ensure that tensions between both nations will
continue. This paper explores the history of Sino-India
relations since 1949, and explores the factors that make this
relationship one of permanent tension.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. The researcher intends to analyse about how culture and
history define the relationship between two countries.
 2. The researcher wants to understand why it is important
for one country to have relations with other.
3. The researcher intends to analyse the role of government
in shaping the foreign policy of a country.
4. The researcher intends to study the relations over the
years between the two neighbours.

TENTATIVE CHAPTERIZATION

1. An Introduction - China–India relations refers to the

bilateral relationship between the People's Republic of China
(PRC) and the Republic of India. Although the relationship
has been friendly, there are border disputes and an economic
competition between the two countries that have at times led
to strained relations.
2. History - The first records of contact between China and
India were written during the 2nd century
BCE. Buddhism was transmitted from India to China in the
1st century CE. Trade relations via the Silk Road acted as
economic contact between the two regions.
 Trade
 Travellers
 Buddhism
3. Diplomacy - On 1 April 1950, India became the first non-
communist bloc country to recognize the PRC over the
Taiwan-led Republic of China (ROC), beginning the post-
1949 diplomatic relations between the two nations. The
popular Hindi slogan of “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” was
common during relatively congenial relations between the
two early to mid-1950s. Eventually however, ties between the
two nations began to sour.
 Tibet
 Border Disputes
  Geopolitics
3. Military Relations - There have been primarily three direct
conflicts over border disputes between India and China. Border
disputes resulted in a short border war between the People's
Republic of China and India on 20 October 1962. The border
clash resulted in a defeat of India as the PRC pushed the Indian
forces to within forty-eight kilometres of the Assam plains in
the northeast. It also occupied strategic points in the Aksai
Chin and Demchok regions of Ladakh, before declaring a
unilateral cease-fire on 21 November. It claimed that it
withdrew to twenty kilometres behind its contended line of
control. India disagreed with the claim.

 Conflicts
 Nuclear Weapons
 Naval Strengthening
4. Economic Relations - After the death of Mao Zedong,
China began opening up its economy and implementing reform
in 1978, leading to a divergence in economic development
between India and China, China growing into a much larger
economy.33 While China began leveraging export driven
growth based on its cheap labour driven competitive advantage,
India remained a relatively closed economy till as late as 1991.
This, along with the border disputes and regional conflicts
between the two nations led to a period of limited economic
relations between them. Post India’s economic liberalization in
1991, economic cooperation and relations between the two have
been accelerating, as witnessed in trade, investment and other
exchanges.
5. Conclusion - Though no direct conflicts have occurred
between India and China in decades, the progress in their
international relations since 1949, hints at this being a
relationship of permanent antagonism in the foreseeable future.
The geopolitical circumstances put India in opposition of the
dual front of China and Pakistan in South Asia, and as a part of
a larger US-India-Other Asian Powers front against China in
the region, as well as on the global stage.