Himalayan Times (1962)

Two

Himalayan Times

December 16. 1962

BASIC FACTS ABOUT INDIA-CHINA BOUNDARY

Dr. K. Gopalachari

This is an attempt to
present the basic facts
about the India-China
border regarding whioh
there is a vast and varied
array of material in the
1960 Report of the Offi.
oials of the two Govern-
ments, and the White
Papers issued by the Mi-
nistry of External Affairs,
Government of India,
from time to timo.

The Indian alignment
of the India-China bound-
ary is a traditional and
historical one, determined
along a majestic and un-
changing natural feature,
that is, a watershed, sanc-
tified by treaties, and
reinforosd by the exercise
of continuous administra-
tive jurisdiction appro-
priate to the areas con-
cerned. It has been well-
knovrn, and respected by
both sides for centuries.
According to international
law and uaage. an inter-
national boundary based
on tradition and custom
and running along dis-
tinctive and unchanging
natural features stanu de-
fined, and needs no fur-
ther or formal definition,
not to meution demarca-
tion.

A uniqua feature of
the Indian alignment of
the India-China boundary

is that it lioa along high
and continuous watersheds
ranging in height from
14,000-25,000 feet, and
forming a majestic wall
of nature, in sharp con-
trast to the man made
Great Wall of China, over
which foxes leap today.
A watershed is a moun-
tain range dividing two
river systems or basins.
The fact that a river
breaks through here or
there, no more vitiates
the watershed, than an
exception vitiates the rule.
In the north, the bound-
ary lies along the water-
shed between the Indue
system in India, and the
Yarfcband and Yurung
Qish systems in China.
Further south it follows
the watershed between
the Sutlej in Tibet and
the Ganges in India East
of Nepal, it is the creBt
of the Himalayan Range
forming the watershed
between the northern tri-
butaries of the Brahma-
putra and the southern
tributaries of the Tsangpo.
There is na break or fault
in the watershed, a fact
implicit in the Rig Vedio
utterance. "The Hima-
layas symbolise all moun-
tains".

This watershed forms
the Himalayan buttress

to the plateau of Tibet,
also oalled 'the roof of
the world'. It is the orest
of the Main Himalayan
Range in the eastern re-
gion, while in the western
and middle sectors it is
the leaser Himalayan
Range lying to the norih
and east of the Main
Himalayan Range. The
ranges along which the
boundary runs are also
known locally as the
Mustagh, Aghil, Kuen
Luu, Zaskar, and Jlsiv.
Himalayan Ranges.

The alignment claimed
by China, besides lacking-
foundation in history, is
a very artificial one,
jumping from peak to
peak, and cutting across
watersheds and rivers.

The Indian alignment
marches along the northern
and eastern boundaries of
Kashmir, of whioh Ladakh
forms a part, the eastern
frontiers of ths Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh, and
Uttar Pradesh and the
northern frontiers of Sik-
kim, Bhutan and the
NEFA. The broad belt
of Indian frontier terri-
tory waB once the seai
of the Kingdoms of La"
dakh, Spiti, Bashaur,
Garhwa! Brahmapura, arid
Kamaru: and the pre-
sent Indian alignment re-
presents the boundaries
of these early ludian
kingdoms.

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