Page 545 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

and religious practices. There are shreds of evidence of cultural exchange and
trading for the first few centuries. Invasions from Islamic regions stopped
every interaction and exchange between India and China. However, both of
them suffered from European colonisation during the eighteenth and

nineteenth centuries. They have been politically isolated from each other up
till the last seven decades.

They have been vital parts of various trade routes joining the Middle East,

Europe, and Far Eastern countries. In current times, the world relies heavily
on these two countries for manufacturing various goods. Today, at the global

level, both of these countries account for about 33% and 25% of
manufacturing items respectively.

Background

British rule limited trading options between China and India, but in the early
twentieth century, post Independence, both of them resurged and marched

towards becoming superpowers of Asia. India and China relinked on the
basis of sympathy, mutual problems and admiration. In 1941, the Japanese
invaded Chinese territory and caused a great deal of damage to Chinese

people medically. the Indian National Congress sent a medical team to China,
which was led by Dr Kotnis.

After getting independence, the Indian government achieved a diplomatic

peace with the Chinese Government in 1948. This did not sustain for a long
period of time and in 1949, the nationalist Kuomintang Government was
defeated by the military. The communist party People’s Republic of China

was set up on the first day of October 1949 and India, despite being a
democratic country, recognised it.

Border disputes between India and China

The India-China borders can be broken down into three sectors:

1. Western Sector or Aksai Chin Sector: The region is claimed by the