China protests against Indian PM's visit to Arunachal

China protests against Indian PM's visit to Arunachal

GS-2,3: International Relations, Internal Security

(UPSC/State PSC)

Important for Prelims:

Arunachal Pradesh- North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA), South Tibet, Zangnan, Sela Tunnel, Border Road Organization (BRO), Tawang Monastery, Lhasa Monastery, Dalai Lama, Monpa tribals.

Important for Mains:

About Sela Tunnel, reasons/importance of China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh, way forward, Conclusion.

13/03/2024

Why in news:

China has expressed protest over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

  • India rejected China's objection to PM Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh on the grounds that Arunachal Pradesh is a sovereign state of India.

About Indian PM's visit to Arunachal:

  • PM Modi visited Baisakhi in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on March 9, 2024 to inaugurate the Sela Tunnel.
  • The opening of this tunnel is the main cause of recent tension between the two countries.

About Sela Tunnel:

  • This is the world's longest double lane tunnel built at an altitude of 13 thousand feet. The length of this tunnel along the China border is 1.5 kilometers.
  • This tunnel directly connects Tezpur in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal.
  • Construction: The design and infrastructure of this tunnel has been prepared by the Border Road Organization (BRO), a special wing of the Indian Army.

Significance:

  • The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Tawang located on the China border.
  • Being close to LAC, this tunnel will make the movement of the army even better in bad weather.
  • With the construction of this tunnel, the distance to China border has been reduced by 10 kilometers.
  • This tunnel will directly connect Tezpur in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal.
  • There are four army corps headquarters at both the places, the distance of which will also be reduced by one hour.

Reasons for China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh/Significance:

  • According to China's Foreign Ministry, the entire area of Arunachal Pradesh is part of Chinese territory and India cannot arbitrarily start its infrastructure projects in this area. China calls Arunachal Pradesh South Tibet and names it Jangnan.

China claims:

  • China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet. And while China may lay claim to the entire state, its main interest lies in Tawang district, which is in the north-western region of Arunachal and borders Bhutan and Tibet.
  • In the 1962 war, Indian troops fought Chinese forces in Tawang and Anjaw districts of the Walong region.

Tawang Monastery:

  • Tawang also houses Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery), the second largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.
  • This monastery was founded by Merag Lodro Gyamtso in the year 1680-81 to honor the wishes of the fifth Dalai Lama.
  • China claims that the monastery is proof that the district once belonged to Tibet.
  • They cite historical links between Tawang Monastery and Lhasa Monastery in Tibet in support of their claim on Arunachal.

Cultural Relations and Concerns of China:

  • There are some tribes in the upper Arunachal region which have cultural links with the people of Tibet.
  • Monpa tribal population follows Tibetan Buddhism and is also found in some areas of Tibet.
  • China fears that the presence of these ethnic groups in Arunachal may at some level give rise to a Tibetan pro-democracy movement against China.

Political significance:

  • When the Dalai Lama fled Tibet amid the Chinese crackdown in 1959, he entered India through Tawang and stayed at the Tawang Monastery for some time, which has been a bone of contention between India and China.

Bhutan Factor:

  • If China gains control of Arunachal, it would mean that China would be Bhutan's neighbor on both the western and eastern borders of the state.
  • China is already engaged in large-scale construction of motorable roads to connect strategic points on the western side of Bhutan.
  • China wants to expand its roads from Doka La to Gamochin, which is under the protection of the Indian Army.
  • China's efforts to get closer to the Siliguri Corridor are a security threat to both India and Bhutan.

Strategic position of Arunachal:

  • Arunachal Pradesh is the closest place for India to target China with missiles.
  • Also, Arunachal is the best place for India to deploy a multi-layered air defense system against possible attacks from China.
  • Thus, China will get strategic advantage by controlling Arunachal.

Water Power:

  • China controls India's water supply in the north-eastern region.
  • For India, the Brahmaputra accounts for about 30% of the freshwater resources and 40% of the total hydropower potential of the country. About 50% of the Brahmaputra basin is in Chinese territory.
  • The Tsangpo River, which originates in Tibet, flows into the Tsangpo River, which originates from Tibet, flows into India and is called Siang in Arunachal Pradesh before becoming the Brahmaputra.
  • China has built many dams and can use water as a geostrategic weapon against India by causing floods or drought in the region.

About Arunachal Pradesh:

  • Old name: Till 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was known as North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA).
  • Borders: It is the largest state in the north-east and has international boundaries with Bhutan to the north and north-west, Bhutan to the west and Myanmar to the east.

Strategic importance:

  • This state acts like a protective shield for the North-East.

Way forward:

  • Fearing Chinese threat of “water war”, India has launched its largest hydropower project of 11,000 MW in Upper Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Hydropower projects are going on at a rapid pace in the North-East and especially in Arunachal Pradesh, which shares its border with China, this is seen as a strategic move to counter the potential impact of Chinese flow diversion through the dams it is building.
  • India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is internationally recognized and accepted.
  • India has repeatedly rejected China's territorial claims on Arunachal Pradesh and said the state is an integral part of the country.

 

 

Conclusion:

China has been notorious for increasing its power in global politics as part of an expansionist policy. Under this view, apart from Arunachal Pradesh, China also claims Aksai Chin and Ladakh as its part. However, China's tension has increased due to the construction of this tunnel.

Source: Indian Express

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Mains Question:

  • Write about Sela Tunnel and its importance.
  • “Arunachal Pradesh has special importance for China” Discuss India's strategic activities in the light of China's view.