There were several circumstances that preceded the 1962 Indo-China War. Give specifics. Talk about the war’s significance for India as well. (Answer in 250 words)
Answer: The idea of re-integrating India's neighborhood through a sub-regional approach began to emerge in the late 1990s, but it was only in the mid-2000s that a sustained push for sub-regional connectivity started to take concrete shape. Recently, marking 50 years of Bangladesh's independence, IndRead more
Answer: The idea of re-integrating India’s neighborhood through a sub-regional approach began to emerge in the late 1990s, but it was only in the mid-2000s that a sustained push for sub-regional connectivity started to take concrete shape. Recently, marking 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence, India and Bangladesh made a joint decision to explore sub-regional connectivity initiatives with additional road and railway connectivity links to Nepal as well as rail links to Bhutan via Indian Territory. Various steps taken in sub-regional connectivity
- BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) sub-regional Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) in 2015 bringing together the Bay of Bengal and the Himalayan sub-regions.
- The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project and the sea-river-land Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project aim to develop transport infrastructure in western Myanmar and North-eastern India to form the key connectivity projects in linking India with the Mekong subregion.
- The Chabahar agreement between Afghanistan, India, and Iran aims to fulfill the idea of building a sub-region around the Arabian Sea.
Importance of sub-regional connectivity for India in its neighbourhood
- To boost trade & commerce: Transport corridors are the arteries through which trade, commerce, and people flow within and across countries.
- They become platforms for reducing poverty, generating employment, and promoting sustainable development by creating new economic opportunities for the countries being connected.
- For example, seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase the national income of Bangladesh by 17 percent and 8 percent in India.
- Further, improved transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh could increase India’s exports by 172 percent while Bangladesh’s exports to India could almost rise 3 times.
- Geostrategic response to China: China has massively expanded its diplomatic, economic, and political footprint across South Asia.
- India needs to rethink its strategy because the default outcome of what the BRI is likely to accomplish in India’s periphery is its steady economic integration with China and the marginalization of India in its own neighborhood.
- India is the largest transit country in the subcontinent and India’s geographic location and size make it a natural connector for its immediate neighbours and beyond.
- Countering terrorism and extremism: Improved sub-regional connectivity can also help counter terrorism and extremism by promoting greater understanding and cooperation between neighboring countries and by reducing the opportunities for extremist groups to operate across borders.
- Better diplomatic relations in the region: Better connectivity in India’s sub-regions will support the idea of wider integration between South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, eastern Africa, and the Indian Ocean where India can take the leading role.
- Foster Cultural exchange: Sub-regional connectivity will increase India’s engagement with other countries in its neighborhood and help in the development of the region based on the principles of cultural thinking and civilizational ethos.
However, India’s sub-regional approach towards its neighborhood faces several challenges such as political instability as well as economic imbalances between countries in the region. Further, border disputes between India and some of its neighboring countries can also pose a challenge to sub-regional initiatives, as they can create tensions and disrupt trade and investment flows. Thus, an Indian connectivity strategy will have to consider the political, economic, and cultural sensitivities of the neighboring countries. At the same time, re-integrating the subcontinent by re-discovering the old as well as building new land, sea, and riverine corridors should be a key focus. Moreover, India should invest relatively more in the soft dimensions of connectivity, including capacity building.
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The ‘Hindi Chini bhai bhai’ had been a popular slogan in the 1950s. Both countries advocated against imperialism and had their bilateral ties further strengthened by the Panchsheel Agreement in 1954. However, relations were short-lived when the Sino-Indian Conflict broke out in October 1962 across tRead more
The ‘Hindi Chini bhai bhai’ had been a popular slogan in the 1950s. Both countries advocated against imperialism and had their bilateral ties further strengthened by the Panchsheel Agreement in 1954. However, relations were short-lived when the Sino-Indian Conflict broke out in October 1962 across two theaters: the NEFA (present-day Arunachal Pradesh) and the Aksai Chin Area. The reasons which led to the breakout of this war are as follows:
1.) Territorial disputes: China has territorial disputes over 2 regions. The Aksai Chin which China claimed to be a part of Xinjiang, and the NEFA. Moreover, the McMahon line which was demarcated in1914 had been done without the consultation of China.
2.)India’s support to Tibet: China had annexed Tibet in 1950, after which India gave asylum to Dalai Lama in 1959. This angered the PRC. They claimed that India was instigating Tibetan rebellions in China.
3.) Geopolitical tensions: The timing was strategically planned. India failed to get assistance from America since they were occupied with the Cuban missile crisis. USSR remained neutral as it required support of China during the Cold War.
Significance: the war bought out grave deficits in India’s defence planning and budgeting. Defence minister VK Krishna Menon had to resign. Alliance with Russia was further strengthened to counter China’s expansionist policies. Throughout the years, India’s foreign policy has been adapted keeping in mind the 1962 war. Curbing China’s ongoing String of Pearls policy has been successful from the lessons learned in this war.
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