Asian Art

China–India relations

China and India maintained peaceful relations for thousands of years, but their relationship has varied since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949 and the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China. The two nations have sought economic cooperation with each other, while frequent border disputes and economic nationalism in both countries are major points of contention. Cultural and economic relations between China and India date back to ancient times. The Silk Road not only served as a major trade route between India and China, but is also credited for facilitating the spread of Buddhism from India to East Asia. During the 19th century, the British East India Company increasingly exported opium, grown in India, leading to the Opium Wars. During World War II, both British India and the Republic of China (ROC) played a crucial role in halting the progress of Imperial Japan. After India became independent in 1947, it established relations with the ROC. The modern Sino-Indian diplomatic relationship began in 1950, when India was among the first noncommunist countries to end formal relations with the Republic of China and recognise the PRC as the legitimate government of both Mainland China and Taiwan. China and India are two of the major regional powers in Asia, and are the two most populous countries and among the fastest growing major economies in the world. Growth in diplomatic and economic influence has increased the significance of their bilateral relationship. Between 2008 and 2021, China was India's largest trading partner, and the two countries have extended their strategic and military relations. India has a large trade deficit that is favoured towards China. The Sino-Indian border dispute, manifested by the Line of Actual Control (LAC), remains a central issue, resulting in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the clashes in 1967, and the a standoff in 1987. Since the late 1980s, both countries have rebuilt diplomatic and economic ties; a 1996 agreement forbids firearms and explosives near the LAC. Border deconfliction mechanisms emerged, beginning with the 2003 Special Representatives. Renewed conflicts included standoffs in 2013, and in 2017; major skirmishes in 2020-2021 resulted in dozens of deaths on both sides; military infrastructure near the LAC continues to grow.

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See also

• ▸Duke of Zhou
• ▸Fire screen
• ▸Eggenberg Palace, Graz

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Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.