China–India border dispute facts for kids
The China–India border dispute is about certain areas of land that both China and India say belong to them. These areas are mostly along the long border between the two countries in the Himalaya Mountains.
One main disputed area is in the far west, called Aksai Chin. This high, cold, and mostly empty land is claimed by India but controlled by China. China considers it part of its Xinjiang region.
Another big disputed area is in the east. India calls this area Arunachal Pradesh, but China calls it South Tibet. This eastern border follows a line called the McMahon Line. This line was agreed upon in 1914 between British India and Tibet. However, China did not accept this agreement, which is why the dispute continues today.
Why are there disputes along the Himalayan border?
The long border between China and India goes through the high Himalaya Mountains. Because of this, there are many smaller areas along the border where the two countries disagree about who owns the land. These disagreements are part of the larger border dispute. Some of these specific areas include:
- Chuva and Chuje
- Shipki La Pass
- Nilang and Jadhang
- Barahoti, Lapthal and Sangcha
What happened with Sikkim?
Sikkim used to be a small kingdom in the Himalayas. In 1975, India made Sikkim a part of its country. China did not agree with this at first. However, over time, China has mostly accepted Sikkim's status as part of India. Even so, a very small part of the border between Sikkim and China, sometimes called "The Finger," is still debated.
