The conclusion of the 19th meeting of top-level commanders of the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to discuss confidence building measures after the bloody River Galwan clash of May 2020, concluded in Chushul on August 14 without any apparent progress. On September 9-10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet with premier Li Qiang at the G20 Summit in Delhi. This is a good opportunity to initiate de novo negotiations on resolving the Sino-India border dispute that has bedevilled the relationship between the world’s two most populous and high-potential nations since the early 1950s. It’s also pertinent to note that even as troops of the two nations are squaring off along the 3,488 km undetermined border Sino-India merchandise trade is at an all-time high with India’s trade deficit with China exceeding $100 billion (Rs.84,000 crore).

The origins of the Sino-India border dispute can be traced to the early 20th century during the heyday of the British Raj over India. At that time to prevent Russian expansion beyond Afghanistan, the British arbitrarily drew border lines well north of the Aksai Chin plateau which was a territory governed by Imperial China for centuries. Likewise to establish Tibet also governed by Imperial China for centuries, as an independent buffer state between China and India, in 1914 they extended the boundary of British India (Assam) to the north of the river and town of Tawang by concluding a treaty with the Tibet administration, to impose the McMahon line. The proclivity of the British to decree arbitrary border lines all over the world including Africa and the Middle East and indeed between India and Pakistan in 1947, is well-known recorded history.

Therefore, it’s inexplicable that the Congress government of newly independent India — and Prime Minister Nehru in particular — insisted on adhering to Sino-India border lines inherited from the British Raj. Especially since Nehruvian socialist India was vehemently anti-imperialist. Nehru’s ‘talk but don’t negotiate’ policy led to the Sino-India border war of 1962 in which the poorly-equipped Indian Army suffered a humiliating defeat. But even as the PLA was poised to sweep across Assam, it declared a unilateral cease-fire and retreated north of Tawang to leave a door open for peaceful negotiations. But fearful of public opinion, successive governments at the Centre have continued with Nehru’s ‘talk but don’t negotiate’ border policy.

Although the BJP has always advocated a muscular approach to the boundary question, it would be an act of great statesmanship for prime minister Modi to re-start bona fide negotiations — which means give a little, take a little — towards resolving the highly volatile Sino-Indian border dispute. Our two nations lived in peace and harmony for several millennia until the machinations of the British Raj. That status quo ante needs to be restored between the world’s most populous and high-potential neighbour nations.

Also read: Settle Sino-India border through compromise