India’s External Relations Test - 2

From time to time in history, China had claimed administrative control over Tibet. And from time to time, Tibet was independent too. In 1950, China took over control of Tibet. 

When the Panchsheel Agreement was signed between India and China in 1954, through one of its clauses about respecting each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, India conceded China’s claim over Tibet.

Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first top-level leader (he was then External Affairs Minister) to visit China in 1979. Later, Rajiv Gandhi became the first Prime Minister after Nehru to visit China. Since then, the emphasis is more on trade relations between the two countries.

Non-Alliance means the freedom to decide on issues independently.

After the Second World War, the world was divided into the blocks of the USA and the USSR.

The Bandung Conference later led to the establishment of the NAM. The First Summit of the NAM was held in Belgrade in September 1961. 

The Sino-Indian War of 1962 began on 20 October 1962, when Chinese forces launched a large-scale military offensive against India. China attacked India and occupied large tracts of territory while trying to enter India through Arunachal Pradesh.

In the early part of 1999, several points on the Indian side of the LoC in the Mashkoh, Dras, Kaksar, and Batalik areas were occupied by forces claiming to be Mujahideens. Suspecting the involvement of the Pakistan Army, Indian forces started reacting to this occupation. This led to a confrontation between the two countries. This is known as the Kargil conflict. This conflict went on during May and June 1999.

Article 51 of the Indian Constitution lays down some Directive Principles of State Policy on ‘Promotion of international peace and security’.

The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama accompanied the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during the official Chinese visit to India in 1956.