The ever elusive border resolution

New Delhi: Despite promising noises of an early resolution and many rounds of annual dialogue, why does the India-China border issue continue to fester? Why is there no moving forward in actual terms? Is it because it suits Beijing to let the status quo continue?

According to China expert Ranjit Singh Kalha, a former secretary in the external affairs ministry, the "stalemate" on the boundary issue, which has seen 17 rounds of formal talks so far over the disputed boundary of around 4,000 km, is likely to continue.

In his seminal book "India-China Boundary Issues: Quest for Settlement" (Indian Council of World Affairs & Pentagon Press/310 pp/Rs.995), Kalha says that Chinese policy makers appear to have taken the decision "that the present status quo is perhaps preferable than opting for a solution. A settlement may be politically or strategically unwise or the price may be far too high".

He argues that the issues of China-Pakistan relations, Tibet and the Dalai Lama and India's propensity to seek enhanced strategic and security links with countries of East Asia under the aegis of the US "rebalancing" towards Asia are "important factors that China takes into account while determining policy".

China has contiguous 22,000 km of land borders with 14 countries, though India considers the China-Pakistan Occupied Kashmir border to be illegal as the whole of Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India.

According to India, China's land border is, therefore, with 13 countries.

While China has solved its land border disputes with most countries - notably Russia - India and Bhutan remain the only states that have continuing land border disputes with China.

"As regards Bhutan, China alleges that it is still under 'India's firm control' and that India will not allow it to 'freely engage in diplomatic relations with China and solve the border issue'." Kalha says that it is "indeed an anomaly" why China is unable to settle the border dispute with India when it has done so with other countries, though it is at loggerheads with many countries on the maritime front in the South and East China Seas.

"While assessing the prevailing reality along the Sino-Indian border, three factors need to be kept in mind. Firstly, in the Western sector, the Chinese are in possession of territory up to their stated claim line. Secondly, India is in no position to evict them physically by using military force. Thirdly, although India is in possession of territory in the middle and Eastern sectors, the Chinese would like to take possession of even larger chunks of Indian controlled territory, particularly in the Eastern sector," Kalha writes.

He adds that Beijing has still not given up its claim to the whole of Arunachal Pradesh and smaller pockets in the Middle sector. "They know that short of use of force, India will not give up its position in the Middle and Eastern sectors".