McMahon Line and the US’ Backing: Important Facts

March 16, 2023

Recently, two United States Senators, one Republican and one Democrat, introduced a bipartisan resolution in Congress, reaffirming the US’s recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India in Arunachal Pradesh. The resolution also supports India’s position that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and condemns China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.

In this article, we will explore the significance of this resolution and what it means for the US-India strategic partnership and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative.

The McMahon Line: Background and Significance

The McMahon Line was drawn during the Simla Convention of 1914, which attempted to settle the question of Tibet’s sovereignty and avoid further territorial disputes in the region. The line was named after Sir Henry McMahon, who was the British Foreign Secretary in India at the time.

The McMahon Line was drawn as a boundary between British India and Tibet, which was then a part of the Chinese empire. However, China did not recognize the McMahon Line and continued to claim Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.

Today, Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state, and China still claims the region as part of its territory. The region has been a contentious issue between India and China for decades, and tensions have escalated in recent years.

The US-India Strategic Partnership and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Initiative

The resolution introduced by the two US Senators reaffirms the US’s recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India in Arunachal Pradesh. This move is significant as it shows the US’s commitment to supporting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Moreover, the resolution aims to enhance the US-India strategic partnership and the Quad in support of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative. The Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative is a strategic concept that aims to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region and enhance economic, diplomatic, and security ties between the US and its partners in the region.

The resolution condemning China’s military aggression in the region is also significant. China’s aggressive actions along the Line of Actual Control have destabilized the region and threatened peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. By condemning China’s actions, the US is sending a strong message that it will not tolerate any attempt to change the status quo through force or coercion.

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