China, Tibet and Indian border

I think there is a blurring of facts of history. Firstly Tibet was mostly under Chinese suzerainty though for short periods it had independence but it was always at the mercy of China. After the British with Sikh troops launched the Younghusband expedition and reached Lhasa in 1903/04 Tibet became a buffer between China and India. But historically for almost 2000 years Sikkim or the North East and Aksai Chin were never ruled from Delhi or were part of the Indian empire. The British redrew the border after the 1913 Simla conference and made Aksai Chin and NEFA part of India. But even the British never set up an administration in Aksai Chin and NEFA. Till 1938 it is recorded the British recognized Tawang as part of Tibet.

Sikkim was never part of India and only became protectorate after the British took over. No Mogul king or emperor conquered Sikkim and NEFA and this paid tribute to Tibet. Once foolishly Nehru recognized Tibet as a part of China the natural corollary is that old areas like Aksai Chin, NEFA and even Sikkim are in the Chinese sphere of influence. This is because at some time they were part of the Tibetan empire and China claims continuity and India foolishly recognized Tibet as part of China, undoing all the efforts of the British.

Nehru made the situation worse by not setting up any administration in the areas like Aksai Chin. As far as Sikkim is concerned China has recognized it as part of India but they claim the entire Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin including Ladkah as part of China as these were part of greater Tibet empire. The Chinese feel the present borders were drawn by the British during the age of imperialism and China was weak. They have a point and India has compounded its problems by not developing the areas or setting up any infrastructure. China has a rail like to Lhasa at 13000 ft and India is nowhere comparable. The fault is with the founding fathers of the Indian state who got power in their laps and failed to realize its significance. Sikkim is not the problem but other areas are.

Reply