China’s Territorial Claim on India’s Eastern Sector: Tibet as Core

China’s territorial claim on the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh has been a longstanding issue of concern for Indian foreign policy. While both countries signed a framework agreement to resolve the issue in 2005, not much progress has been made towards a final resolution. This Issue Brief offers insights on the Chinese claim from a local perspective based on four interpretative frameworks: Tibet as the “Core Issue” to the Chinese territorial claim; China’s Military Modernization in Tibet; Infrastructure Development; and the ‘Balance of Power’. It also offers five policy implications that emerge from the analysis. The author argues that India needs to shore up its air power and “Special Forces” in Arunchal Pradesh in order to strengthen its defence posture in the eastern sector.

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