ABSTRACT
It is a paradox of history that though India and China were the prime architects of the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’ (discussed in the previous chapter), the novelty of these principles was never executed in the course of their bilateral relationship, particularly in resolving the boundary dispute. Matters bordering on boundary change the complexion of the issue dramatically from its historical perspective, becoming more of a territorial dispute than just a boundary dispute, on account of the resources of land territory and the State’s military and financial authority. Borders also have an important bearing on space and people in a globalised world (Haselsberger 2014; see also Blanchard 2005). This chapter evaluates the current and possible future course of the India-China boundary dispute. It looks at how historical facets have changed with the course of occasion and opportunity. It is divided into three main parts, as follows: (i) the nature of the dispute; (ii) the negotiation process; and (iii) the future of the dispute.
