China-India border disputes

A new 80 billion yuan investment in TAR infrastructure is part of Beijing’s long-term strategic design for handling internal and external threats.

There was no thaw, but 2023 brought some promising stabilization in the relationship between Beijing and New Delhi.

With Xi possibly visiting India for the G-20 Summit in September, some hope for a tempering of tensions. But that might just be wishful thinking. 

Why have Sino-Indian border tensions exploded? Three factors are at work: the border disputes, the rise of nationalist leaders in both countries, and the impact of geopolitics.

The divergence between China and India on border issues was on full display. Nevertheless, Li's visit to New Delhi still holds some positive significance.

After the April 27 meeting between the Indian and Chinese defense ministers, the two sides failed to issue a joint statement -- a telling clue as to how the meeting went. 

Much commentary has focused on how China might apply lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war to Taiwan. But what about the disputed Sino-Indian border?

Chinese views of India are very complicated – but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.

The Chinese and local government have stepped up plans to settle, develop, and securitize the TAR's disputed border with India.

India’s current security strategies vis-à-vis China are inadequate, but with a deterrence-by-detection strategy, the nation has a chance at maintaining its de facto border.

The clash in late 2022 revealed much about the future direction of Sino-Indian relations.

Following the clash along their disputed border in December, there's little reason for optimism in China-India ties for the new year.