Article No. 3 : HIMALAYAS : INDIA AND CHINA

In order to understand the problem of LAC, we need to go back a few centuries to find what Himalaya meant to China and India. The series on ‘Understanding The Cunning- China Claim Line 1959’ from tomorrow will make even a layman understand the complexities.

China was one tenth of size as it exists today. China was always at receiving end of Huns and Tartars. China, as it exists today was made from 11 different countries. Starting from East to West, Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong, Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, Goetsu, China, Cantonia, Tibet and East Turkistan. The expansionist China usurped all neighbours and its hunger for land does not finish. So far as India is concerned, we need to just keep Tibet and East Turkistan in mind. Aksai Chin had Tibet along its southern borders while East Turkistan was to the north.

Turkistan, till 100 years back spread west of present Chinese boundary. It was divided between Russia (retaining the West Turkistan) and China which retained East Turkistan. This is the area on the northern boundary of Aksai Chin. This is dominated by Muslim population and we know it as XinJiang with Uyghur people. Tibet has seen ups and downs in last 100 years but before that for more than 10 centuries was independent till annexed by China in 1951. Aksai Chin in East and South borders with Tibet.

Aksai Chin, as India depicts its boundary in official maps existed since centuries and both Tibet and Turkistan never laid any claim. It has always been Indian territory. This is where the woes lie.

The vast expanse of Tibet kept China away from India. Himalayas was never a big obstacle for the Mongol raiders and access to Delhi was always unopposed. Once they crossed Tibet, they were in extremely fertile areas where weather ceased to be hostile. History is replete with the raids carried out by small and big tribes from North to south of Himalayas. From Indian side, however, it was always very difficult to launch attacks deep within present China due to continuous ascent up to Tibet Plateau and a thousand kms of barren land before any worthwhile military target came up.  It did not have worthwhile benefits to attract big invasions. Other than the Ladakh side, there are practically no invasions carried out ever crossing Himalayas from South to North. Himalayas thus played a vital role then, as it plays today. Zorawar Singh in 19^th century reached in the western portion of Tibet and finally died in the same area. The current Chushul-Spangur gap was used as route to enter Tibet.

Annexation of Tibet gave direct access to China to complete Himalayan Range from XinJiang to Arunachal Pradesh. The geographical shape and location of Tibet gave tremendous advantage to China some of which are:

• Though far from the original China, the central point in Tibet is nearly equidistance from Aksai Chin area and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Communication lines are direct thus letting military move at fast pace.
• There are no worthwhile targets for India on the northern side of Himalayas.
• Their bases hugging Himalayas give deep access within India whereas same advantage does not exist for India.
• Tibet boundary is all along the base of Himalayas thus giving direct access to China to all heights in Himalayas.
• The CONCAVE shape presented by Himalayas is of great advantage to China.

China has one big disadvantage. It cannot sustain holding Himalayas with troops. It just cannot. This will be true for a maximum of 10 years.

Understanding Himalayas from Indian perspective is important too.

• Traditionally and mythologically, Himalayas always belonged to India. They reside in every Indians heart. The commitment, therefore, is much higher.
• The southern part of Himalayas is populated till great heights and is inhabited throughout the range.
• The CONVEX shape of Himalayas increases Indian communication lines which have direct military implications.
• Holding Himalayas at great heights for India is a very easy task, we are doing it from last 60-70 years.

We have a big disadvantage too. We do not hold northern slopes in most places that gives us direct access to Tibetan plains.

Mull over it. With these three articles I launch my series on ‘Understanding The Cunning- China Claim Line 1959’ from tomorrow.

Col Sanjay Pande

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