Books on India China relations for an unbiased perspective

Historically, the economic and cultural relations between China and India could be traced back to ancient times. The Silk Route, which was a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, served as a major highway between the two countries. Moreover, it also helped spread Buddhism from India to East Asia. As of now, both the countries are two of the major regional powers in Asia, two most populous countries and among the fastest-growing major economies in the world.

In light of the recurrent border disputes in recent times, there is a sudden interest and inquisitiveness about the bilateral relationship of the two countries. Here is a look at some books that will help you understand the India-China relations better.

Set to be released in Dec 2020, the book “helps us make sense of a complex relationship and how India and China are learning to cope with each other’s rise on the world stage.” Be it the complexities of the border dispute, convoluted history of the Himalayan frontier, or the challenge of articulating a farseeing China policy, the book casts light on each of them.

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According to the book’s blurb, it “evaluates and infers the consequences of the political and military confrontations between India and China from the 15th to the 21st century.” It further goes on to answer many important and vital questions that are essential to understand the Sino-India relationship and what form it will take in the near future. The book, in light of the latest clash between the two countries, argues, “How Modi will respond to this challenge now will define India’s relationship with China as well as its position in the world.”

Pic credit: Bloomsbury India

As per the author, the book is the first one "to put the Sino-Indian border dispute and the 1962 war into its rightful historical and geopolitical context." It examines how the 1962 war was about much more than the border. The book further unveils how China started planning the war as early as in 1959 and what did it accomplish by winning it.

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The book is written by an ex-Indian Army officer who served in the Gorkha Regiment. It describes two fierce encounters between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across two 15,000-feet mountain passes in Sikkim in September 1967.

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The book reveals the various dimensions and angles of China’s economic growth. Further, it attempts to tell a simple and lucid tale of the Chinese economy. In this course, it reveals some exceptional models of growth and economic change. All in all, the book helps the reader to develop an acumen to understand critical issues.

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As per the book’s blurb, it examines the evolution of the boundary and the nuances of British India's Tibet policy from the 18th century till India's Independence. Furthermore, it analyses the policy’s consequences in current times and puts forth some suggestions for the way ahead.

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The book focuses on the less explored side of the India-Nepal relations, which includes the triangular region between China, India and Nepal. It further analyses the history of these nations through the lens of colonialism, dependency, democratic peace, et cetera.

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The book is different in the sense that it revisits the seemingly rigid India-China border dispute from a contemporary conflict resolution perspective. This helps it in being relatively detached from the historical baggage that has so often influenced other commentaries on this controversial subject.

Pic credit: Viva Books