Publication Date

1964

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Thomas, M. Ladd||Dionisopoulos, P. Allan||Kent, Frederick G.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Political Science

LCSH

Sino-Indian Border Dispute; --1957-; China--Foreign relations--India; India--Foreign relations--China

Abstract

On September 8, 1962, the armed foroes of India and China clashed at several points along the Tibet-India border. This open conflict marked the end of what appeared to be a cordial relationship that transcended marked differences In political systems and ideologies. This thesis represents an effort to examine the conflict In the light of both its historical background and current setting In order to establish a general relationship between geo-political factors and the dynamics of contemporary Indian and Chinese Ideology. To accomplish this, the armed conflict and its dynamics are isolated and examined apart from the overall political environment. In effect, this limits the space, time, and scope of the clash and renders it amenable to detailed study. In order to isolate the period of armed conflict from its general setting, a conflict-episode method of analysis is employed. The application of this mode of analysis necessitates using a wide array of current documents. Generally, the sources used in this study are documents issued by official sources in India and China prior to and after the open warfare on the border. To further the validity of the thesis, the conclusions are based mainly on primary sources, which, in most oases, are the notes and diplomatic papers exchanged between the two governments regarding the Tibet-India border situation. What results from this study is a clear indication that the armed clash was initiated by China in order to secure immediate objectives—-the security of Tibet and unchallenged control of the Aksai Chin. In order to achieve these goals, the conflict was structured in a manner that allowed Peking to set the time, area, and scope of the clash. But this episode also appears to be an intermediate step toward Peking's long-range goals—-the achievement of Chinese hegemony in Asia, the countering of the universalism of the United States and Russia, and the exclusion of all but the Maoist version of communist thought from the underdeveloped nations.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes maps.

Extent

vii, 125 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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