UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 5th September

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 5th September

Question

Discuss the unresolved territorial disputes and border tensions between India and China. What is the need of peaceful coexistence between both the countries? (15 marks, 250 words) 

Model Answer

 Introduction: 

  • The India–China border, stretching over 3,488 km across the Himalayas, remains one of the most contested frontiers in the world. Rooted in colonial cartography and historical mistrust, the boundary was never formally demarcated. After the 1962 war, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) emerged as the de facto boundary but remains disputed. India insists on maintaining territorial sovereignty, while China emphasizes strategic imperatives. 

Unresolved Territorial Disputes and Border Tensions 

  • Ambiguity of the LAC: 

  • India and China have differing perceptions of the LAC, leading to overlapping patrols and face-offs. 

  • E.g. The 2013 Depsang standoff occurred when Chinese troops pitched tents inside territory India considered its own. 

  • Frequent Standoffs: 

  • Unresolved claims lead to recurring military crises that destabilize bilateral relations. 

  • E.g. The Galwan clash of June 2020 resulted in 20 Indian soldiers’ deaths, the worst violence since 1967. 

  • Infrastructure Race: 

  • Both sides are rapidly developing roads, tunnels, and airbases to assert territorial claims. 

  • E.g. India’s Darbuk–Shyok–DBO road provoked Chinese build-up in Ladakh, triggering the 2020 crisis. 

  • Trust Deficit: 

  • Despite numerous dialogues, lack of transparency sustains tensions. 

  • E.g. During the military-to-military dialogue with India, China refused to even discuss its intrusions into the Galwan River valley, instead claiming ownership over the entire area. 

       Need for Peaceful Coexistence 

  • Economic Interdependence: 

  • Bilateral trade supports growth and employment, making peace indispensable. 

  • E.g. Despite border tensions, the total bilateral trade between India and China in 2024-25 was USD 127.71 billion. 

  • Addressing Global Issues Together 

  • India and China, both members of BRICS and SCO, can tackle shared challenges like climate change, pandemic response, and global health crises more effectively through collaboration. 

 

  • Regional Stability: 

  • Escalation undermines Asian peace and affects multilateral platforms. 

  • Global Leadership Goals: 

  • Both aspire to shape multipolar world order, requiring stability at borders. 

  • Past Cooperation Models: 

  • Border accords demonstrate that coexistence is achievable with diplomacy. 

  • E.g. Both sides have reiterated the principle that differences must not turn into disputes, drawing from the Panchsheel (Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence) agreement first signed in 1954. 

  • Avoiding Two-Front Challenge: 

  • For India, peace with China is vital to balance Pakistan and internal security. 

       Conclusion: 

  • The India–China border remains a flashpoint where unresolved disputes meet aspirations for stability. The lessons of 1962 and Galwan underline the dangers of neglecting dialogue and trust-building. At the same time, interdependence in trade, climate negotiations, and regional security compels both sides toward cooperation. India must balance firmness on sovereignty with pragmatic engagement in multilateral and bilateral forums. Ultimately, sustainable peace will come from building mutual confidence while pursuing a fair and acceptable boundary settlement.