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What are the areas of conflict between India and China relations ?
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What are the areas of conflict between India and China relations ?
I would contrast with the other answers and say that the biggest bone of contentions are not the physical disputes, but the mental images that each empire carries of the other.All old civilizations and states carry huge egos, which is a product of their identities having survived for such a long time.The potential for a conflict lies with the Chinese taking their newfound superiority complex and trying to rectify an issue with India without the finesse required to talk to a very old and wise sage with an attitude problem, someone who won’t hesitate to burn down the house if merely spoken to a disrespectful way.And for India the problem remains of extending her inferiority complex a tad bit too much, and start seeing nefarious Chinese ambitions in areas where they don’t exist. It is something the media persons are 100% guilty off. Only they and the think-tank-land lacking any skin in the game will think of “pearls strategy” (newsflash - India is not as significant as our media makes it out to be yet at the level Beijing plays, so to think that somehow China is conniving greatly to “block” India’s rise is quite funny).
The inherent mismatch between inferiority/superiority complexes on each side is in my opinion more graver than an actual conflict.
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What are the areas of conflict between India and China relations ?
China’s superpower ambition is bound to have a long term impact on Asian security. It’s very difficult to deal with an inscrutable, revisionist and rising superpower next door with whom India had a historical rivalry and whose brazen inroads into India’s traditional sphere of influence leaves embittered. Ironically, its trading relationship is important to the economy. The main areas of conflict are

ENCIRCLEMENT FROM EVERY POSSIBLE SIDE
India is contained geopolitically by the longstanding axis between China and Pakistan, involving, among other things, covert nuclear, missile and intelligence cooperation. With serious strains emerging in Beijing’s relationship with North Korea, Pakistan is now clearly China’s only real ally almost 24th Province of China.

Paradoxically, China and Pakistan have little in common, yet boast one of the closest relationships in international diplomacy. Their axis has been built on a shared objective to tie India down, as former state department official Daniel Markey says in his 2013 book. Weapon transfers, loans and infrastructure projects allow China to use Pakistan as a cost-effective counterweight to India. Pakistan, for example, developed nuclear weapons with Chinese aid and US indulgence. Indeed, the more Pakistan has become a jihadist snake pit, the greater has been China’s leeway to increase its strategic penetration of that country.

For India, the implications of the growing nexus are particularly stark because China and Pakistan are hostile, non-status-quo powers bent upon seizing additional Indian territory. Significantly, as China’s strategic intervention in PoK has grown, it has started needling India on J&K, one-fifth of which is under Chinese occupation. It has employed innovative ways to question India’s sovereignty over J&K and stepped up incursions into Ladakh. China is clearly signalling that J&K is where the China-Pakistan nexus can squeeze India. Its military pressure on Arunachal Pradesh appears aimed at distracting from its other designs. PoK serves as the artery of the China-Pakistan nexus. Much of the Chinese funding will be for power projects, including the $1.4-billion Karot Dam, located on the so-called Azad Kashmir’s border with Pakistani Punjab. This dam is the first project to be financed by China’s new $40-billion Silk Road Fund.

China thinks in the long term. Pakistan is now becoming China’s launch-pad for playing a bigger role in the Indian Ocean and West Asia. It will also serve as the lynchpin of China’s India-containment strategy. China’s land corridor to the Arabian Sea will extend India’s encirclement by the PLA from the J&K land borders to the Indian Ocean sea lanes. Insurrection-torn Baluchistan, however, stands out as the Achilles heel of China’s corridor initiative.

China already has the capability of launching a swift border offensive against India in conformity with its principle to 'win local wars (China's latest Defence White Paper). China is also enhancing its extended range force projection capabilities by establishing overseas naval bases in the Indian Ocean. China's rapidly growing military modernisation programme has changed the balance of power in South Asia. China with its asymmetric and fourth-generation warfare and joint operations capabilities and enhanced strategic reach can pose a serious challenge to India both in a border war and the Indian Ocean region.

Chinese maintains strength of five to six divisions on the borders against Indian forces. It is estimated that China can deploy only about 20 divisions in a war because of constraints posed by the Himalayan ranges. However, it has created infrastructure to maintain large reserve forces in Tibet that can be deployed both for defensive and offensive tasks at short notice. China may able to deploy over 32 divisions in an offensive operation supported by an array of Chinese missile forces thus posing a formidable threat to India.
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What are the areas of conflict between India and China relations ?
Areas of Conflict between India and China Relations

India and China, two populous Asian nations, share a complex relationship that is characterized by both cooperation and conflict. While there are areas where the two countries collaborate, there are also several contentious issues that strain their bilateral ties. Some of the key areas of conflict between India and China relations are:

1. Border Disputes:
One of the major sources of conflict between India and China is the unresolved border issue. The two countries share a 3,488 km disputed border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Disputes exist in several areas, such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional military standoffs and tensions. Both countries have different perceptions of the border, which has resulted in multiple clashes and incursions.

2. Tibet Issue:
India's hosting of the Tibetan government-in-exile and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has been a longstanding irritant in the bilateral relationship. China considers Tibet as an integral part of its territory and accuses India of supporting Tibetan separatism. This issue has strained relations and led to periodic diplomatic spats.

3. Influence in South Asia:
India and China are regional powers vying for influence in South Asia. China's growing economic and military presence in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives is seen as a challenge to India's regional dominance. The two countries compete for infrastructure development projects, access to ports, and strategic partnerships in the region.

4. Trade Imbalance:
The trade imbalance between India and China is a contentious issue. India has a significant trade deficit with China due to the import of Chinese goods, especially electronics and pharmaceuticals. This trade imbalance is seen as detrimental to India's domestic industries and has led to calls for trade protectionism and increased market access for Indian products in China.

5. Geopolitical Rivalry:
India and China are emerging as global powers and have competing geopolitical interests. They have different visions for the future world order and are often at odds in international forums like the United Nations. Their rivalry extends to issues such as India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and China's support for Pakistan on various international platforms.

In conclusion, while India and China have areas of cooperation, such as trade and climate change, there are significant areas of conflict that hinder the development of a harmonious relationship between the two nations. Addressing these contentious issues requires diplomatic dialogue, confidence-building measures, and a willingness to find mutually acceptable solutions.
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