The United States has officially recognized the McMahon Line as the international boundary between India’s Arunachal Pradesh and China. This recognition serves as a rejection of Beijing’s claim that the northeastern state falls under Chinese territory. The US Senate introduced a bipartisan resolution last month, which was acknowledged on Tuesday, acknowledging Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and also supporting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The McMahon Line is a boundary line established in 1914 by British colonial administrator Sir Henry McMahon between Tibet and British India. The line was determined through a series of agreements between Britain, China, and Tibet. However, the Chinese government has refused to recognize the McMahon Line, arguing that the border was never formally agreed upon.
In addition to recognizing the McMahon Line, the resolution condemns Chinese provocations in the region. This includes China’s use of military force to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, construction of villages in contested areas, publication of maps with Mandarin-language names for cities featuring Arunachal Pradesh, and expansion of Beijing’s territorial claims over Bhutan.
Former US ambassador to Japan and Senator Bill Hagerty expressed his support for the bipartisan resolution, stating that it expresses the Senate’s support for unequivocally recognizing the state of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.
The resolution, titled ‘Reaffirming the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and condemning the People’s Republic of China’s provocations in South Asia’, came after one of the biggest clashes that took place in December last year between Indian and Chinese forces in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The clash led to several casualties on both sides and escalated tensions between the two countries.
China has long claimed sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it “South Tibet,” and has disputed the McMahon Line as a legitimate boundary between India and China. China has also objected to Indian infrastructure development in the region, including the construction of roads and military infrastructure.
The resolution by the US Senate is a significant development in the ongoing border dispute between India and China. The recognition of the McMahon Line as an international boundary between India and China strengthens India’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh and sets a precedent for other countries to recognize India’s sovereignty over the region.
The resolution also highlights growing concerns over China’s aggressive territorial claims and expansionism in the region. China’s efforts to alter the status quo in disputed territories have been a source of tension with neighboring countries, including India, Japan, Taiwan, and others.
The US Senate resolution comes at a time when the US is seeking to deepen ties with India as part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy to counter China’s growing influence in the region. The US has been increasingly vocal in its support for India, particularly in its border dispute with China.
The resolution is also likely to be seen as a signal to China that the US is willing to take a more assertive stance on China’s territorial claims and expansionism in the region. The US has been increasingly critical of China’s actions in the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other areas.
The US Senate’s recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between India’s Arunachal Pradesh and China is a significant development in the ongoing border dispute between the two countries. The resolution strengthens India’s claims over the region and sets a precedent for other countries to recognize India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. The resolution also highlights growing concerns over China’s aggressive territorial claims and expansionism in the region, and is likely to be seen as a signal to China that the US is willing to take a more assertive stance on China’s actions in disputed territories.
