Border Dispute with China - Facts and Solution

The border itself has three district parts:

Areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh: Here while the Chinese claim the areas right up to Brahmaputra river, it not in occupation of any Indian territory. The MacMohan line that defines the border and runs along the watershed has been accepted by China in case of Myanmar.

Central Sector that includes areas bordering Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh: In these areas as well there is no major dispute about the border alignment and the Chinese also do not lay claim to any areas. There is however a dispute regarding the status of Sikkim.

Aksai Chin area: Here the Chinese are in occupation of sizable areas that India claims as its own. However the Chinese are satisfied with the areas they control as that serves their strategic need for a road link between Sin Kiang and Tibet.
As the dispute over Aksai Chin may encounter legal hurdles on the Indian side, it could well be 'frozen' for the next 100 years and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) jointly demarcated and accepted by both the sides.

Solution

The border in the central sector and in Arunachal could be dealt with separately and jointly accepted by both sides as the International Border. To avoid unnecessary confrontation (like the one at Sumrodongchu in 1986-87) both sides could agree for demilitarisation and also permit each other's nationals, specially graziers, a limited access.

The essential principle is that finalisation of border in other areas should be delinked from the dispute over Aksai Chin.

Closure of the 1962 conflict and demarcation/freeze on border dispute would lay the foundations for friendly and peaceful relations between the two great countries of India and China and be a guarantee for peace in the 'Asian Century.'