U.S. Offers Full Backing to India After China Border Clash
NewsweekDec 05, 2022
The Facts
On Thursday, China reportedly denied entry to three Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh — a northeastern state in India, much of which Beijing claims as its own — for the Hangzhou Asian Games.
India alleges that while other wushu players — a type of martial arts — could download their travel documents, the trio from the disputed territory couldn't. In protest, India's Sports Minister canceled his scheduled visit to China on Friday.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh is among its many maritime and land disputes in Asia. The communist nation has sought to keep India off-balance by frequently needling it over its northeast and northernmost regions. It has reportedly even raised entire villages in disputed territories unilaterally. Such unfettered irredentism is dangerous for a region brimming with nuclear powers.
Pro-China narrative
The McMahon Line, which demarcates the India-China border along Arunachal Pradesh, was drawn by the colonial British administration without the consent of the Chinese. Since Tibet is now an integral part of China and Arunachal Pradesh has long been culturally associated with Tibet, India can't claim sovereignty over the territory based on an old British whim.