Armed Coexistence: The Dynamics of the Intractable Sino-Indian Border Dispute (Politics of South Asia)

This book is the first to comprehensively explore the origins and reasons behind the Sino-Indian border dispute's intractability. Utilising an array of accurate maps, tables, archival and scholarly research, this book shows how an ambiguous frontier became a contested border and how it has become relatively pacified yet remaining unresolved. Unlike previous examinations, however, this book also provides a theoretically based explanation as to why it is so difficult for an interstate border dispute to be resolved. By examining a wide range of salient actors, from state leaders to the individual governing organisations to the State itself, it is shown that it is usually in their interest to maintain the status quo rather than seek some form of resolution, thereby ensuring that the border dispute remains intractable. With both China and India shaping up to be major powers throughout the twenty-first century, a detailed examination of the major issue of contention between them is more pertinent now than ever. Stephen P. Westcott received his Masters in International Relations from the University of Western Australia and his PhD in Politics from Murdoch University. His research interests include Indo-Pacific geopolitics, South Asian security and issues concerning terrorism/counter-terrorism. Currently he is a postdoctoral research associate at Murdoch University, where he teaches International Relations and Global Security, and is the book review editor for the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs Acknowledgments A Note on the Spelling of Names and Places Contents Abbreviations List of Figures 1 Introduction Interstate Border Disputes The Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Structure of the Book References 2 From Imperial Frontier to Intractable Dispute Introduction The Origins of the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Western Sector The Eastern Sector The Emergence and Entrenchment of the Sino-Indian Border Dispute 1950–1961: From Misunderstandings to Intransigence The 1962 Border War and Its Aftermath Restoring Bilateral Relations and Developments in the 1980s Post-Cold War Developments The Pacification of the Border The Return of Tensions The Current Situation References 3 Causes of Interstate Border Dispute Intractability: A Neoclassical Realist Levels of Analysis Approach Introduction Escalation, Compromise or Status Quo? Realism and Interstate Border Disputes Neoclassical Realism’s Insight A Levels of Analysis Explanation of Intractable Interstate Border Disputes Multiple Levels of Analysis and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute References 4 The First Level of Analysis, Chief Executives and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Introduction Poliheuristic Choice Theory and Intractable Interstate Border Disputes Chinese Leaders and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Mao Zedong Deng Xiaoping Jiang Zemin Hu Jintao Xi Jinping Indian Leaders and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi The Minority Governments: 1989–2014 Narendra Modi Concluding Remarks References 5 The Second Level-of-Analysis; Domestic Political Pressures and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Introduction Governmental Politics Model of Foreign Policy Formation and Implementation Governing Institutions and Organisational Players The Decision Game The Action Game China’s Governmental Politics The Chinese Policymaking Process Towards the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Chinese Communist Party and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The People’s Liberation Army and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute India’s Governmental Politics The Indian Policymaking Process Towards the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Ministry of External Affairs and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute The Indian Armed Forces and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Concluding Remarks References 6 The Third Level of Analysis; the State’s Interests and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Introduction State Strategic Culture, Context, and Interstate Border Disputes The Value of the Territory The Geopolitical Environment Windows of Opportunity Diplomatic Leverage Normative Factors National Prestige National Sovereignty China’s Interests and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Territorial Considerations Geopolitical Considerations Normative Considerations India’s International Situation and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Territorial Considerations Geopolitical Considerations Normative Considerations Concluding Remarks References 7 Conclusion Summary of the Arguments Potential Solutions and Their Flaws Concluding Remarks References Annex A: Key Negotiations and Treaties Regarding the Sino-Indian Border Dispute Index "This book is the first to explore the origins and reasons behind the Sino-Indian border dispute's intractability. Utilising an array of accurate maps, tables, archival and scholarly research, this book shows how an ambiguous frontier became a contested border and how it has become relatively pacified yet remaining unresolved. Unlike previous examinations, however, this book also provides a theoretically based explanation as to why it is so difficult for an interstate border dispute to be resolved. By examining a wide range of salient actors, from state leaders to the individual governing organisations to the State itself, it is shown that it is usually in their interest to maintain the status quo rather than seek some form of resolution, thereby ensuring that the border dispute remains intractable. With both China and India shaping up to be major powers throughout the twenty-first century, a detailed examination of the major issue of contention between them is more pertinent now than ever."--page 4 of cover