India-China-Relations
India and China are two of the world’s most influential civilizations, each with thousands of years of history, culture, and knowledge. Their relationship has evolved through phases of friendship, cultural exchange, rivalry, and conflict. Today, as both nations rise as major global powers, their interactions significantly influence Asian geopolitics and global stability.
Understanding India China relations requires a comprehensive look at their ancient ties, colonial experiences, post-independence diplomacy, border disputes, and modern challenges.
The relationship between India and China dates back over 2,000 years. Both civilizations connected through the Silk Route, which facilitated not just the movement of goods like silk, cotton, and spices but also the exchange of religious and philosophical ideas.
A crucial link was Buddhism, which spread from India to China. Pilgrims and scholars from China frequently travelled to India to study original texts.
These exchanges enriched both cultures and laid the foundation for centuries of intellectual and spiritual dialogue.
Another cross-cultural connection is linked to Bodhidharma, a South Indian Buddhist monk (associated with the Pallava kingdom, 5th–6th century CE). He travelled to China and became the 28th patriarch of Mahayana Buddhism and the first patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism.
Chinese traditions also regard him as the founder of Shaolin martial arts, which later evolved into Kung Fu. This remarkable legacy highlights how Indian philosophical and spiritual traditions influenced Chinese culture far beyond religion.
During the medieval period, diplomatic ties continued. In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveller, came to India during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign. In 1342 CE, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to China under the Yuan dynasty. His travelogue Rihla illustrates the enduring curiosity and contact between India and China during this period.
The colonial period dramatically reshaped India China relations. With India under British control, the relationship became entangled in imperial politics.
Thus, by the end of the colonial era, India-China ties were marked less by cultural exchange and more by political and economic complications.
After independence, India was quick to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. This step was seen as a progressive gesture of solidarity among newly emerging Asian nations.
The spirit of friendship was encapsulated in the slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” (Indians and Chinese are brothers). The signing of the Panchsheel Agreement (1954) emphasized principles of:
This raised hopes for a lasting partnership between the two Asian neighbours.
The boundary question between India and China is rooted in the unfinished legacy of the British and the Manchu empires. Much of the frontier lies in the high Himalayas, sparsely populated and poorly defined. After independence, India took the position that the McMahon Line settled the matter, while China consolidated its hold over Tibet and constructed a road across Aksai Chin, which India also claimed.
China’s annexation of Tibet in 1950 altered the strategic balance along India’s northern frontier.
In July 1954, PM Nehru sent letter to the Chinese authority for border revision. However, Chinese premiere Zhou-En-Lai returned it along with a map claiming errors in Indian map and included 1,20,000 km of Indian territory as Chinese position. After Lhasa Rebellion in 1959, Dalai Lama was given reception in India as political asylum which enraged China.
In 1959, Beijing, under Mao Zadong, proposed recognition of India’s claim in the east (Arunachal Pradesh) in return for Aksai Chin to China and accept a Line-of-Actual-Control as the border while both side forces recede by 20 km off the line , but New Delhi rejected the idea as it follows the Johnson Line placed Aksai Chin within the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, and this became the basis of India’s claim after independence. China, on the other hand, follows the Macartney–MacDonald Line (1899), which placed Aksai Chin within Xinjiang. Which Further emphasized by then Chinese premiere- Zhou-EN-Lai in his Delhi visit in 1960.
MacMahon Line is a 890 km border of Arunanchal Pradesh (proposed in the 1860s by British surveyor W.H. Johnson), starting from Bhutan till the Isu Razi pass near Myanmar, a de-facto border between Tibet (China) and India. It was signed between the British India and the Kingdom of Tibet in 1914.
Johnson Line is India’s accepted boundary between China and East of Ladakh over Aksai Chin, proposed in 1868 by the British-India, between Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, under Gulab Singh, and China’s Xinjiang province.
This hardened positions and culminated in the war of 1962, where India suffered setbacks and lost control of Aksai Chin. Although China withdrew from parts of the eastern sector, it retained its gains in the west (Aksai Chin). The following years saw occasional clashes, such as those at Nathu La and Cho La, and both sides increased patrols in contested zones.
The turning point in India China relations came with the 1962 Sino-Indian War. China attacked across two sectors:
India was defeated, and the war left deep psychological and strategic wounds. It destroyed the trust built in the 1950s and shaped decades of suspicion.
By the late 1970s, there was a shift towards talks with the visit of then foreign minister Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under Janta party government, to Beijing, wherein then Chinese president Deng Xiaoping again proposed the 1960 proposal. The 1967 Sikkim skirmish and 1986-87 Sumdorong Chu conflict, which India relataliated well, caused further strains in India China relations. India’s fairly incorporation of Sikkim in 1975 was criticized by China. In 1983, China further claimed the Tawang district of Arunanchal Pradesh, which claimed it as part of South Tibet called Zangnan, in the border negotiation naming it LAC plus.
It was PM Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Beijing in 1988 helped normalize ties. Then president Deng Xiaoping asked him to forget the unpleasant past and resume trade and resolve border dispute based on Mutual Understand and Mutual Accomodation (MUMA) and both countries formed Joint Action Group (JWC) on border issues.
Then In 1993 on sixth JWG meet, under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, the two sides signed the Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement, committing to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and avoid escalation. Several rounds of discussions followed, which reduced forces and artillery along the border but efforts to mutually define the LAC proved unsuccessful.
Prime Minister Vajpayee’s 2003 visit to China led to the creation of the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism to pursue a final settlement. The 2005 agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles underlined the need to respect settled populations and each other’s concerns. Yet, disputes persisted, especially over Tawang, which China continued to claim.
The 2010s saw attempts at confidence building, including the Wuhan (2018) and Mamallapuram (2019) summits. However, confrontations such as Doklam in 2017 and the violent clash in Galwan in 2020 revealed the fragility of the peace process.
These recurring border issues remain the most sensitive and unresolved aspect of India-China ties.
Despite tensions, bilateral trade has grown immensely in the last three decades. China is one of India’s largest trading partners. Key aspects include:
However, the trade deficit heavily favours China, raising concerns in India about economic dependence. India China net trade-value is USD 127 billion (2024-25) with trade deficit of USD 99 billion, with imports from China is about USD 113 billion and export of mere USD 14 billion approximately.
India and China also engage in global platforms such as:
These forums allow dialogue despite bilateral tensions, as both countries recognize their global responsibilities.
Yet, cooperation is overshadowed by rivalry:
In 2025, India and China took steps to restore normal exchanges by resuming the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, reinstating tourist visas for Chinese nationals, and moving towards the revival of direct passenger flights. Discussions also included reopening border trade routes such as Lipulekh, Nathu La, and Shipki La to strengthen local economic ties.
The 19th round of Special Representatives’ (SR) talks was held in 2024, focusing on stabilising the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ensuring disengagement in remaining friction points. In 2025, another round of SR talks complemented the decision to set up an Expert Group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs. The Expert Group is tasked with exploring early solutions for boundary delimitation. While these steps mark intent, fundamental differences over the LAC remain unresolved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking his first China trip in seven years. During talks with President Xi Jinping, both leaders stressed that India and China should view each other as partners, not rivals. Xi emphasized that the “dragon and elephant must move together” for regional stability. It also condemned the unilateral tariff imposition of 50%, against the WTO rule, by the USA on India and favoured for Rule-Based-Global Order on international trade and tariff.
At the SCO Summit, the joint declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, reflecting a diplomatic success for India. Earlier, at the Qingdao Defence Ministers’ Meeting, India had refused to endorse a declaration that downplayed cross-border terrorism. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s stance of zero tolerance and accountability for terror sponsors.
China signalled willingness to increase imports from India in sectors like software, pharmaceuticals, and biotech, while India pressed for a more reciprocal business environment for Chinese investment.
Despite these positive signals, the border dispute continues to cast a shadow. The SR talks and the new Expert Group represent progress, but resolving territorial claims remains a long-term challenge.
For India China relations to move toward stability, both nations must work on:
The evolution of India China relations is a story of cultural bridges, colonial legacies, post-independence optimism, and modern-day rivalries. From Faxian and Xuanzang’s pilgrimages to the Silk Route, from Bodhidharma’s Zen teachings to the trauma of the 1962 war, the relationship has swung between friendship and conflict.
Today, India and China stand as two of the world’s largest economies and most powerful nations. Their future ties will not only determine the stability of Asia but also shape the global order. A balanced approach of dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation is essential to ensure that the 21st century becomes a century of partnership rather than confrontation.
The primary issue is the unresolved border dispute, particularly in Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, which has led to repeated clashes. Also, China’s undue support to Pakistan.
Trade is significant, with China being one of India’s largest trading partners. However, the relationship suffers from a large trade deficit in China’s favor.
Signed in 1954, it highlighted peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Though symbolic, it failed to prevent future disputes.
Yes, they already cooperate in BRICS, SCO, and climate forums, but long-term trust requires resolving territorial disputes.
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