Joe Shearer
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@mazeto
As you will appreciate, this is a discussion forum, and nothing that is discussed here, or even stated here, however authentic and well-researched, will affect the real-world discussions and negotiations between authorised organs of state that is going on.
On the Chinese side, the clearest definitions that have emerged (I am not quoting actual documents because these have not themselves been published, they have only been referred to by authorised persons in passing) seem to be that
Your last sentence, about development rather than militarisation, is an example of the great harm caused by ongoing uncertainty about the intentions of our neighbours. I completely support your sentiments.
This is probably the most accurate summation of not only the Chinese side, but both sides' positions.
The only difference is that there is no political consensus on the Indian side to agree to this. There are precedents; the re-alignment of the frontiers with Bangladesh, to exchange enclaves created by the ownership of land by Cooch Behar state in areas now in Bangladesh, and by estates of zamindars whose territories are now in Bangladesh lying in India, is such a precedent. The cession of Mullaitivu, for the sake of a resolution of border difficulties, in spite of the annual carnage caused by a trigger-happy and racist neighbour's navy, is another.
This is such an impossible thing to ask on a discussion forum. Nothing that an individual member states is binding on his country; why should we ask each other to confirm this, that or the other? And if it is intended to restrict debating positions, any constructive statement by CardSharp seeking to calm angry passions on the Indian side may create major affront and a renewed set of attacks by others who feel that he has given away what was not his to give, that he can state only what is his personal opinion, and that such personal opinion cannot restrict others.
Let us understand what is being conveyed and leave it at that, without pressing the matter to these lengths.
This is a mixture difficult to handle.
The caste system applies to Hindus, not to those outside Hinduism, however we define it (there are those on this forum who will inform you that Hindu is not a religious category, Hinduism is not a religion, Sanatan Dharma is the correct term and so on; others who will earnestly educate you on the three main categories that observant Hindus fall into, and so on).
Animists, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Brahmo Samaji are all outside the caste system.
Regarding genetics, there is a shading off from the eastern frontiers of Bengal onwards, as we go east, north-east and south-east. This is Bengal in the original form, 3/5 - 60% - of which is now Bangladesh. People in the Chittagong area, for instance, speak a patois barely intelligible to other Bengalis, and are heavily influenced by their proximity to the Arakan; the Chittagong Hill tracts contain a different genetic mixture from the plainsmen, Tripura and Manipur, even, mentioned in ancient Indian epics dating back to 800 BC or more, are also genetically border areas, but quite recognisably within the boundaries of the Brahmaputra Valley and lower Ganges Valley cultural complexes.
In this case, the dominant culture - not genetically differentiated group, but culture - is the Ahom culture of the Brahmaputra Valley, of older Indian elements from the older Brahmaputra Valley culture overlaid by the conquering tribe of the Ahoms who entered the valley in the 13th century, and set up the oldest state in the sub-continent. They are, however, apparently not identical to the other, differentiated genetic groups of the southern catchment area of the Brahmaputra, which is the general genetic grouping to which most of the Arunachal Tribes belong, other than the Monpas (of Bhutanese affiliation).
In conclusion, if ethnicity were to be the touchstone, 50% of the land mass of powerful neighbouring countries of India might be considered alien. Culture is a more acceptable yard-stick; that 50% lies well within our neighbour's cultural penumbra, and is rightly considered by those neighbours to be well-integrated with them. By such yard-sticks, it is not necessary to differentiate unnecessarily between Indian and south-east Asian just because of their genetic differences. Such yard-sticks would demand, in another cardinal direction, a merger of other neighbouring countries with India - an eminently bad idea, considering the considerable nation-building effort that has gone on in those areas, and the considerable fruits that are evident.
So, considering those aspects, it is unnecessary and mischievous to dwell on them to make any kind of point that is not constructive.
A comparison of apples with apples and oranges with oranges would be better for our case. That is my personal opinion, and of course each of us is free to take our own course, and disregard free advice.
As you will appreciate, this is a discussion forum, and nothing that is discussed here, or even stated here, however authentic and well-researched, will affect the real-world discussions and negotiations between authorised organs of state that is going on.
wud like Chinese here to tell what r ur plans for arunachal/south tibet? do u really want it or using only to get aksai cin?
Indians shud tell why they r more intrested in putting more n more army in my state n not roads n development? we want roads not military man
i live there thats y
On the Chinese side, the clearest definitions that have emerged (I am not quoting actual documents because these have not themselves been published, they have only been referred to by authorised persons in passing) seem to be that
- China claims the whole of South Tibet;
- China's definition of South Tibet is not the same as India's definition of Arunachal Pradesh;
- China's maximal position is that portion of Arunachal Pradesh which is hilly country, right down to the plains;
- It is likely that this is an exaggerated claim and that China has no desire to secure the full extent of their claim;
- A more realistic, better grounded claim is of the monastery of Tawang and certain areas around and about it, consisting mainly of the territory occupied by the Monpas;
- Even on this, there does not seem to be a written-in-stone Chinese position;
- What does seem to be written in stone is their insistence that the McMahon Line should be reviewed without any further loss of time, and that if anything, it should immediately be aligned to the watershed, and not a metre to the north;
- In this lies the non-negotiable Chinese position, and it is a position which agrees with the principles on which the discussions at Simla in 1914 went, so India will be happy to embrace this reviewed, re-aligned McMahon Line;
- The claims and counter-claims regarding Aksai Chin are left out in considering all this, but their position is essentially different.
Your last sentence, about development rather than militarisation, is an example of the great harm caused by ongoing uncertainty about the intentions of our neighbours. I completely support your sentiments.
China is not going to take arunachal/south tibet by force. What China wants eventuall is a negotiated settlement that China and India can live with.
This is probably the most accurate summation of not only the Chinese side, but both sides' positions.
The only difference is that there is no political consensus on the Indian side to agree to this. There are precedents; the re-alignment of the frontiers with Bangladesh, to exchange enclaves created by the ownership of land by Cooch Behar state in areas now in Bangladesh, and by estates of zamindars whose territories are now in Bangladesh lying in India, is such a precedent. The cession of Mullaitivu, for the sake of a resolution of border difficulties, in spite of the annual carnage caused by a trigger-happy and racist neighbour's navy, is another.
do i understand correcly u said tht to china AP/south tibet is negotiable? in other words u will b satisfied if india give u a piece right? meaning u r saying ap/south tibet is not really cihina right?
This is such an impossible thing to ask on a discussion forum. Nothing that an individual member states is binding on his country; why should we ask each other to confirm this, that or the other? And if it is intended to restrict debating positions, any constructive statement by CardSharp seeking to calm angry passions on the Indian side may create major affront and a renewed set of attacks by others who feel that he has given away what was not his to give, that he can state only what is his personal opinion, and that such personal opinion cannot restrict others.
Let us understand what is being conveyed and leave it at that, without pressing the matter to these lengths.
I think the aborigines lived in AP are genetically close to Southeast Asians, even many Indians don't feel any affiliation with them. They were perhaps treating as low caste by the Hindu caste system.
YouTube - Arunachalee marriage party
I think these people are Tibeto-Burman which are the brothers to Burmese people, and cousins to the Chinese people.
This is a mixture difficult to handle.
The caste system applies to Hindus, not to those outside Hinduism, however we define it (there are those on this forum who will inform you that Hindu is not a religious category, Hinduism is not a religion, Sanatan Dharma is the correct term and so on; others who will earnestly educate you on the three main categories that observant Hindus fall into, and so on).
Animists, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Brahmo Samaji are all outside the caste system.
Regarding genetics, there is a shading off from the eastern frontiers of Bengal onwards, as we go east, north-east and south-east. This is Bengal in the original form, 3/5 - 60% - of which is now Bangladesh. People in the Chittagong area, for instance, speak a patois barely intelligible to other Bengalis, and are heavily influenced by their proximity to the Arakan; the Chittagong Hill tracts contain a different genetic mixture from the plainsmen, Tripura and Manipur, even, mentioned in ancient Indian epics dating back to 800 BC or more, are also genetically border areas, but quite recognisably within the boundaries of the Brahmaputra Valley and lower Ganges Valley cultural complexes.
In this case, the dominant culture - not genetically differentiated group, but culture - is the Ahom culture of the Brahmaputra Valley, of older Indian elements from the older Brahmaputra Valley culture overlaid by the conquering tribe of the Ahoms who entered the valley in the 13th century, and set up the oldest state in the sub-continent. They are, however, apparently not identical to the other, differentiated genetic groups of the southern catchment area of the Brahmaputra, which is the general genetic grouping to which most of the Arunachal Tribes belong, other than the Monpas (of Bhutanese affiliation).
In conclusion, if ethnicity were to be the touchstone, 50% of the land mass of powerful neighbouring countries of India might be considered alien. Culture is a more acceptable yard-stick; that 50% lies well within our neighbour's cultural penumbra, and is rightly considered by those neighbours to be well-integrated with them. By such yard-sticks, it is not necessary to differentiate unnecessarily between Indian and south-east Asian just because of their genetic differences. Such yard-sticks would demand, in another cardinal direction, a merger of other neighbouring countries with India - an eminently bad idea, considering the considerable nation-building effort that has gone on in those areas, and the considerable fruits that are evident.
So, considering those aspects, it is unnecessary and mischievous to dwell on them to make any kind of point that is not constructive.
They are not low caste. But in your history Manchus looks down on the Hans, Hans at one point looks down on the nomads up north. Mongols did the the same to Hans. And know they are all in your nation. It doesn't matter know,.
And we are all the same species in the end. Like this matter.
I think Aghans and Indians should work together and get Pashtunistan and others, in a way Pakistan understands.
A comparison of apples with apples and oranges with oranges would be better for our case. That is my personal opinion, and of course each of us is free to take our own course, and disregard free advice.
China has resolved all but six territorial disputes, South Tibet with India and those uninhibited islands off of Taiwan with Japan amongst them. The others all done very peacefully and in every case China conceded the bigger portion of the territory. Many to much smaller countries that China could easily sequester in one manner or another if chosen to do so. Just 3.5% of disputed area from Tajikistan, 22% from Kazakhstan and 32% from Kyrgyzstan. Some of these have been going on for well over 100 years before the PRC. In 17 out of 23 disputes China offered substantial compromises to resolve the disputes. China’s stance has been very liberal in reaching resolution as shown. Many of these countries were formal suzerainties of China that had had longstanding relationships in peace, as is the case with India.
I am not sure how the word 'suzerainty is being used here; in my personal experience, this is a much misunderstood word among those of Chinese origin who post here. There have been sharp differences of opinion, and complete lack of understanding of each other's points of view. A recent exchange, incomplete, regrettably, with ephone is an example of this lack of knowledge.
Assuming that this word is being used in the correct technical sense, it is a strange sentence construction to say Many of these countries were formal suzerainties of China that had had longstanding relationships in peace, as is the case with India. Grammatically this implies that India was under the suzertainty of China, and had a long-standing relationship in peace. Nothing can be more incorrect than this. Instead, the more reasonable interpretation is that the reference is to other territories and sovereign states, which were under Chinese suzertainty for sure, and between which and India there was a long-standing peaceful relationship. That makes much more sense, although relative to the last millennium or so.
Having said that, I agree with the major thrust of the comment, that a mutually agreeable settlement was possible in all cases with no great difficulty. In my opinion, a settlement between india and China has unfortunately got entangled in extraneous factors, and until India can go into the talks with a readiness to settle, also with the enforceable political mandate to settle, there will be no progress. You cannot clap with one hand.
As far as the ’62 War, India’s legacy includes 300+ years of Colonialism where India lost sovereignty as a nation and Indians were “Subjects” of a much smaller and belligerent ruler; if 1962 was the only time India had ever lost a war then one might understand the grudge; so get over it. India should take heed and sit down with China in earnest as the other countries have done and reach a peaceful agreement. Both countries have much greater challenges ahead to deal with, hopefully in cooperation together.
This is not historically correct. I don't even begin to understand the dates and the terminology. That is as far as the facts go; the sentiments are unexceptionable, and quite in the same league as Mom's apple pie; everybody will salute it, with reverence. The kindest way to put things is that in that paragraph, each sentence was better than the one preceding, and it ended with the best.