China–India relations

1. China–India relations

2. INTRODUCTION: • China–India relations, also called Sino-Indian relations or Indo-Chinese relations, refers to the bilateral relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of India. Although the relationship has been cordial, there are border disputes and an economic competition between the two countries that have at times led to strained relations.

3. Continued… Bilateral trade between China and India touched US$89.6 billion in 2017-18, with the trade deficit widening to US$62.9 billion in China's favour, In 2017, the volume of bilateral trade between India & China stands at US$84.5 billion. This figure excludes bilateral trade between India & Hong Kong which stands at another US$34 billion.

4. Premier Li Keqiang of China and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, during the ASEAN Summit to Myanmar, September 2014.

5. President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, during the former's state visit to India, September 2014.

6. Geographical overview China and India are separated by the Himalayas. China and India today share a border with Nepal and Bhutan acting as buffer states. Parts of the disputed Kashmir region claimed by India are claimed and administered by either Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan) or by the PRC (Aksai Chin). The Government of Pakistan on its maps shows the Aksai Chin area as mostly within China and labels the boundary "Frontier Undefined" while India holds that Aksai Chin is illegally occupied by the PRC.

7. Contimued… China and India also dispute most of Arunachal Pradesh. However, both countries have agreed to respect the Line of Actual Control

8. EARLY HISTORY • Antiquity 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.

9. Middle Ages From the 1st century onwards, many Indian scholars and monks travelled to China, such as Batuo (fl. 464-495 CE)—first abbot of the Shaolin Monastery—and Bodhidharma—founder of Chan/Zen Buddhism—while many Chinese scholars and monks also travelled to India, such as Xuanzang (b. 604) and I Ching (635-713), both of whom were students at Nalanda University in Bihar.

10. Tamil dynasties The Cholas maintained good relationship with the Chinese. Arrays of ancient Chinese coins have been found in the Cholas homeland (i.e. Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottaidistricts of Tamil Nadu, India)

11. Sino-Sikh War In the 18th to 19th centuries, the Sikh Confederacy expanded into neighbouring lands. It had annexed Ladakh into the state of Jammu in 1834. In 1841, they invaded Tibet and overran parts of western Tibet. Chinese forces defeated the Sikh army in December 1841, forcing the Sikh army to withdraw, and in turn entered Ladakh and besieged Leh, where they were in turn defeated by the Sikh Army. At this point, neither side wished to continue the conflict.

12. Bilateral trade • China is India’s largest trading partner. • Chinese imports from India amounted to $16.4 billion or 0.8% of its overall imports, and 4.2% of India's overall exports in 2014. The 10 major commodities exported from India to the China were

13. Continued… • Cotton: $3.2 billion • Gems, precious metals, coins: $2.5 billion • Copper: $2.3 billion • Ores, slag, ash: $1.3 billion • Organic chemicals: $1.1 billion • Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $958.7 million • Machines, engines, pumps: $639.7lmillion • Plastics: $499.7 million • Electronic equipment: $440 million • Raw hides excluding furskins: $432.7 million

14. Chinese exports to India amounted to $58.4 billion or 2.3% of its overall exports, and 12.6% of India's overall imports in 2014. The 10 major commodities exported from China to India were • Electronic equipment: $16 billion • Machines, engines, pumps: $9.8 billion • Organic chemicals: $6.3 billion • Fertilizers: $2.7 billion • Iron and steel: $2.3 billion • Plastics: $1.7 billion • Iron or steel products: $1.4 billion • Gems, precious metals, coins: $1.3 billion • Ships, boats: $1.3 billion • Medical, technical equipment: $1.2 billion

15. Border disputes • Sino-Indian border dispute • Aksai Chin – controlled by China and claimed by India. • Arunachal Pradesh – controlled by India and claimed by China. Inhabited by Moinbas, Lhobas (Adi), and Daibameis. • Doklam

16. The area is of strategic importance to all three countries. • Tawang District – controlled by India and claimed by China. • Shaksgam Valley – controlled by China and claimed by India (Conferred to China in 1963 by Pakistan) Trans-Karakoram Tract. • Bhutan–China border • Territorial disputes in the South China Sea • List of territorial disputes