China and India have disputed the 2000 mile border between the two countries for 50 years and this weeks meeting to resolve the issue appears to be simply a rehash of old demands.
India refuses to give China the Arunachal Pradesh area because it is inhabited by Indian nationals, and always has been. China demands that this eastern area of the Himalayan Mountains be turned over or at least the Tawang part of Arunachal Pradesh. India restates that this area is fully inhabited by Indian citizens and therefore cannot be part of any negotiated settlement.
In fact, the whole Himalyan Mountain range is under dispute as a delineated border between the two countries. In 1962, India attempted to secure this region but were easily refuted by Chinese troops.
Today, India is transferring army troops to this area in an apparent effort to defend an anticipated Chinese transgression. The Asian Development Bank authorized the installation of an irrigation system in Arunachal Prudesh last June but China quashed the measure by claiming that they own the territory and India cannot develop it.
The disagreement between the two countries is having an adverse affect on the local population who cannot make regional progress without some form of negotiated settlement. China’s response is to increase military presence in the area. Both sides seem to think that war will break out or that their respective military presence will act as a deterrent to conflict.
China’s Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, stated; "Despite the twists and turns in China-India ties and border disputes, the two countries share the same historical responsibilities of developing economies, improving people's lives and safeguarding world peace and development, which requires them to properly handle existing problems with the utmost political wisdom."
Zang called on both sides to use the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, in 2010, to cement bilateral links and contribute to world peace and development.
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