China Releases a Map Asserting Territorial Claims

Background:

• The India-China border dispute refers to the long-standing and complex territorial disputes along their shared border of 3,488 kilometres. 
• The main areas of dispute are Aksai Chin, located in the western sector, and Arunachal Pradesh, in the eastern sector.
• Aksai Chin: China administers Aksai Chin as part of its Xinjiang region, while India considers it part of its union territory of Ladakh. The region holds strategic significance due to its proximity to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its potential as a military route.
• Arunachal Pradesh: China claims the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “South Tibet.” India administers this region as a northeastern state and considers it an integral part of its territory.
• No Clear Demarcation: The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout and there is no mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) along certain stretches.

Linkage:

• Shimla Agreement of 1914: To demarcate the boundary between Tibet and North East India, a convention was held at Shimla in 1914, representatives of all three i.e. Tibet, China, and British India. 
• Panchsheel Agreement of 1954: The Panchsheel doctrine clearly indicated the willingness to ‘Respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’.
• The Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility: It was signed in 1993, and called for a renunciation of the use of force, recognition of the LAC, and the resolution of the border issue through negotiations.
• The Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the LAC: It was signed in 1996, which laid down pledges on non-aggression, prior notification of large troop movements, and exchange of maps to resolve disagreements over the LAC.

Current News:

• China’s government recently unveiled the “2023 edition of the standard map of China,” reaffirming its territorial claims over disputed regions. 
• The release of the map coincides with China’s “National Mapping Awareness Publicity Week,” which emphasizes the significance of accurate and consistent mapping. 
• The map incorporates China’s territorial claims, encompassing Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin Region. 

Implication:

• China’s release of the 2023 edition of its standard map reaffirms its territorial claims over disputed areas like Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region. 
• This move is consistent with China’s assertive approach to its borders and geopolitical interests under President Xi Jinping’s leadership. 
• The map serves as a reflection of China’s ongoing efforts to bolster its territorial claims and geopolitical influence in the region.