South Asia

Abstract

At the time of the communist takeover in 1949, China’s South Asian borders were among its lesser concerns. The divided and warring subcontinent posed no viable military threat to Communist power. No major border dispute was perceived to exist at the time. Both India and Pakistan were among the first to recognise the new regime. And the re-establishment of Chinese control over Tibet in October 1950 was achieved without resistance by Delhi. Furthermore, India’s positions on the Korean settlement, Indo-China and the future role of China in the UN - especially on the Security·Council - revealed the potential benefits to China from a closer relationship with India and its prestigious leader Nehru. India’s support was a political asset which could serve as a vehicle for achieving a toe-hold in Afro-Asian forums as was the case with the Bandung conference.

I am grateful to Jonathan Cohen for research assistance and to the Harry S. Truman Research Institute of the Hebrew University for support.