1.

INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD

1.1. INDIA-CHINA
Why in news?
Recently, border clashes have been reported along the
Line of actual control (LAC) in Tawang sector of Arunachal
Pradesh.
India China border dispute
• The border between India and China is not clearly
demarcated throughout and there is no mutually
agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) along certain
stretches.
o LAC came into existence after the 1962 Indo China
war.
• India-China border is divided into three sectors, viz.
Western, Middle and Eastern (Refer map):
Region Dispute India’s stand China’s stand
Western sector Boundary dispute in this sector pertains to the India uses the China doesn’t recognize
(Ladakh) Johnson Line proposed by the British in the Johnson Line Johnson Line and instead
1860s that extended up to the Kunlun and claims accepts McDonald Line which
Mountains and put Aksai Chin in the then Aksai Chin as puts Aksai Chin under its
princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. its own. control.
Middle Sector In this sector dispute is a minor one. Here LAC is India and China have exchanged maps on which
(Himachal the least controversial except for the precise they broadly agree.
Pradesh and alignment to be followed in the Barahoti plains.
Uttarakhand)
Eastern Sector Disputed boundary in this sector is over the India asserts that according China asserts that
(Arunachal McMahon Line (in Arunachal Pradesh) decided to the line, Tawang Tract is Tawang Tract is
Pradesh and in 1914 in a meeting of Representatives of China, a part of India (according to part of its
Sikkim) India, and Tibet in Shimla. 1951 position). territory.

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 1.1.1. ONE-CHINA POLICY
Why in news? India’s Policy on Taiwan
• India follows the “One China” policy since 1949 and has no
US house speaker recent visit to Taiwan was formal ties with Taiwan yet.
seen by China as being in contravention to • Also, in 1995 India and Taiwan established offices in each
One China Policy. other country for diplomatic functions with focus on-
Commerce, Culture and Education.
More on news
• However, from 2010 India stopped the use of “One China” in
• The US has maintained a ‘One China’ the backdrop of increased Chinese aggressions at the Line of
policy since the 1970’s, recognising Actual Control.
Taiwan as part of China. But it has • Since then, India has signed a Double-Taxation Avoidance
unofficial ties with Taiwan as well, a Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty with Taiwan.
strategy known as strategic or deliberate ambiguity.
o The island of Taiwan is part of the so-called "first island chain", which includes a list of US-friendly
territories that are crucial to US foreign policy.
What is One-China Policy?
• It is a policy of acknowledging that there is only one Chinese government as opposed to separate Chinese
states.
• Further under this principle, countries also consider disputed territories of Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong and
Xinjiang to be an inseparable part of mainland China.

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 About First Island Chain
• First Island Chain comprises the Kuril
Islands, the Japanese Archipelago,
Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, northwest
Philippines and ending at Borneo.
• This chain is the first line of defence and
serves as the maritime boundaries
between the East China Sea, Philippine
Sea, South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
• In this chain are located the Bashi
Channel and the Miyako Strait which
are critical chokepoints for China.
• It is a part of Island Chain Strategy
(refer image) formulated by the US in
1951 to contain the erstwhile USSR and
China with a string of naval bases in the western Pacific region to restrict sea access to these two
countries.

1.1.2. ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS

Why in News?
China marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's
return and emphasized Beijing's control over Hong
Kong under One country, two systems (OCTS).
Background of OCTS
• It was originally proposed to unify China and
Taiwan but rejected by Taiwan.
• The idea resurfaced when China started talks
with Britain and Portugal, who were governing
Hong Kong and Macau, respectively, as colonies.
About OCTS
• Under this, China proposed that, Hong Kong,
and Macau, can have different economic and
political systems from that of mainland China,
while being part of China.
• Both regions became Special Administrative
Regions of China with their own currencies,
economic and legal systems,
o However, defence and foreign affairs
would be decided by China.
• Also, Hong Kong has freedom of assembly
and speech, and some democratic rights,
which are not available in mainland China.
o These freedoms are protected by the
Basic Law, a mini constitution that guides
relationship between Hong Kong and
China.
o Basic law is valid for 50 years, till 2047
for Hong Kong and 2049 for Macau. But
it is unclear what will happen after this
term.

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