Context:-The United States recognizes the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The bipartisan resolution introduced in the upper chamber of Congress reaffirms that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
- McMahon Line – The McMahon Line serves as the de facto boundary between China and India in the Eastern Sector.
- It specifically represents the boundary between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, from Bhutan in the west to Myanmar in the east.
- China has historically disputed the boundary and claims the state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).
- India’s stand: India recognises Simla Convention (1914) and Arunachal is controlled by India.
- China’s position: China calls Arunachal Pradesh as ‘Zangnan’ and refers to ‘South Tibet’.
- History of McMahon Line – It is named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, who drew the line.
- McMahon line is an 890-km border drew between British India and Tibet.
- It was drawn at the 1914 Simla Convention between the Great Britain, China, and Tibet.
- The border was drawn largely along the crest of the Himalayas, following the ‘highest watershed principle’.
- The People’s Republic of China occupied Tibet in the 1950s, never recognized the McMahon Line.
- Further China claims approximately 90,000 sq. km of territory in Arunachal Pradesh of India as its own.
- The McMahon Line is in alignment with the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Eastern Sector.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) about the China-India International Boundary
1. What is the primary geographical feature that the China-India international boundary follows in some regions?
a) The Ganges River
b) The Himalayan mountain range
c) The Indus River
d) The Thar Desert
Answer: b) The Himalayan mountain range
2. Which agreement signed in 1962 attempted to define the boundary between China and India but resulted in a border conflict?
a) Shimla Agreement
b) Tashkent Agreement
c) Panchsheel Agreement
d) Sino-Indian Border Agreement
Answer: a) Shimla Agreement
3. Which region has been a major point of contention between China and India, leading to a war in 1962?
a) Kashmir
b) Arunachal Pradesh
c) Ladakh
d) Sikkim
Answer: b) Arunachal Pradesh
4. What is the term often used to describe the unresolved border issues between China and India?
a) LAC Dispute
b) Silk Road Dispute
c) McMahon Line Issue
d) Dalai Lama Controversy
Answer: a) LAC Dispute
5. Which organization plays a significant role in managing the China-India border dispute and facilitating negotiations?
a) United Nations
b) World Trade Organization
c) Shanghai Cooperation Organization
d) International Court of Justice
Answer: c) Shanghai Cooperation Organization
