Sino-Indian Border Dispute

General AssemblySpecial Political & Decolonization Committee

TopicSino-Indian Border Dispute

The Sino-Indian border dispute is a longstanding territorial conflict between India and China involving approximately 3,800 kilometers of disputed Himalayan frontier. The demarcation of the border has always been contested by both countries, who have separate claims throughout the region. Experts and analysts classify the dispute into three parts: the western sector of Ladakh, the middle sector, and the eastern sector along India’s Arunachal Pradesh region. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) serves as the de facto military boundary in much of the disputed region, but its exact alignment is contested by India and China.

Various significant incidents along the LAC led to the aggravated situation after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, which was caused by competing territorial claims and deteriorating relations between both countries. Although neither side has wanted another major war, disagreements along the LAC have continued. India and China reached several agreements beginning in the 1990s intended to maintain peace and prevent military confrontations along the border. However, increased military infrastructure and patrol activity have periodically produced dangerous confrontations.

The most serious recent escalation occurred in 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops met in Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed, making it the deadliest confrontation between the two countries in decades. Following the clash, both countries increased their military presence and infrastructure along the border, while diplomatic and military negotiations attempted to reduce tensions.

The agreement between India and China in October 2024 concerning military patrols along the LAC resulted in an end to the 4 year military standoff and initiated a process of normalization of the relations between the two countries. However, the underlying territorial dispute has not been resolved. Negotiations between both parties are still underway as per the latest information available in August 2026. Recent talks involving senior officials confirm the readiness of both sides to maintain peace in the contested border area and seek a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” long-term agreement.

The dispute poses obstacles for the wider international community in terms of regional stability, military conflict escalation, sovereignty, and diplomacy. India and China are both major global powers and nuclear states meaning that a war between them would have effects way beyond the disputed territory. Thus, delegates need to consider what confidence-building tactics, diplomatic processes, military communications, and international activities could help ease tensions while honoring and respecting both nations’ territorial claims.

Focus Questions:

1. How can the international community help prevent future military confrontations along the LAC?
2. What confidence-building measures could India and China adopt?
3. Should the UN play a greater role in facilitating negotiations, or should the dispute remain primarily bilateral?
4. How can both countries maintain border security while reducing military escalation?
5. What mechanisms could improve communication between Indian and Chinese forces?

Useful Links:

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission – Background for Congress
https://www.uscc.gov/research/conflict-sino-indian-border-background-congress

Agreement Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in the China-India Border Areas
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2711_663426/2712_663428/202406/t20240607_11407501.html

Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the China-India Border Areas
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2711_663426/2712_663428/202406/t20240607_11407502.html

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – Article – The Sino-Indian Border Confrontation
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2020/06/hustling-in-the-himalayas-the-sino-indian-border-confrontation

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