US Bill Recognises McMohan Line as It’nl Border Between India, China: Demarcation & Shimla Treaty EXPLAINED

published by, Vidushi Sagar

Last Update: March 15, 2023, 2:07 PM IST

Indian Army truck drives on the Tezpur-Tawang highway in India.  Reuters/File

Indian Army truck drives on the Tezpur-Tawang highway in India. Reuters/File

Explained: The bipartisan resolution states that the US recognizes the McMahon Line as the international border between China and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The United States recognizes the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh, said a bipartisan Senate resolution that recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as an ‘integral part of India’.

Senator Bill Haggerty, along with Senator Jeff Merkley, introduced a bipartisan resolution in the Senate, calling for the United States to stand up at a time when China continues to pose a grave and serious threat to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. is important. Side by side with our strategic partners in the region, especially India. read more on this here

Reaffirming that the United States recognizes the McMahon Line as the international border between China and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, the resolution comes after the biggest skirmish between India and China on the Line of Actual Control in six years – Galwan Valley conflict – came after.

But what is the McMahon Line? News18 explains:

The McMahon Line separates the Chinese-occupied eastern Himalayan region from the Indian territories. It is a high altitude hilly region.

It was established by Sir Henry McMahon, Foreign Secretary in the Government of British India, and is known after him as the McMahon Line. It is 890 km long.

Indian Army truck drives on the Tezpur-Tawang highway in India. Reuters/File

The McMahon Line was the result of the Simla Treaty of 1914 between India and Tibet. But, China does not accept this agreement or line.

It travels along the ridges of the Himalayas from the eastern border of Bhutan until it reaches the famous bend in the Brahmaputra River, where it emerges from its Tibetan course into the Assam Valley. Britannica,

What is Shimla Treaty?

In 1914, representatives of India and Tibet signed the Simla Treaty for a clear demarcation. China was not represented in this treaty as Tibet was an independent region at that time, so there was no demand for Chinese representation at the time of this treaty, a mention reports By Jagran josh,

Therefore, according to the Simla Treaty, the McMahon Line is the clear demarcation line between India and China. The British overlords considered Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and the southern part of Tibet as part of India, which the Tibetans agreed to. As a result, the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh became a part of India.

Why does China not accept the McMahon Line?

According to China, Tibet has always been a part of its territory, so Tibetan representatives are not entitled to approve any deal without Chinese authorization. China completely occupied Tibet in 1950. The McMahon Line is no longer recognized or accepted by China.

China also argues that China was not a party to the Simla Treaty, so it is not binding on it. It has been said in the report that it was only after occupying Tibet in 1950 that China asserted its authority over Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian Army soldiers march near a military base on the Tezpur-Tawang Highway, India. Reuters/File

However, India maintains that since Tibet was a weak but autonomous country when the McMahon Line was drawn in 1914, it has every right to negotiate a border settlement with any country.

According to India, Tibet was not ruled by China when the McMahon Line was drawn. Consequently, the McMahon Line is the clear and legal boundary between India and China.

Even after the annexation of Tibet by China in 1950, the Tawang region remained a part of India.

current trend

The McMahon Line is recognized by India and is considered the ‘Line of Actual Control (LAC)’ between India and China, although China does not accept the McMahon Line. China believes the disputed area is 2,000 km long, while India claims it is 4,000 km long.

The Chinese, however, claim that Chinese territory extends to the foothills of the Himalayas in the south. This border dispute with independent India led to the Sino-Indian War of October–November 1962.

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