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Hissing Dragon-Squirming Tiger:
Comparisons, Negotiations
and Attitudes
continues...
Other than the issue of the historical status of Tibet in its applicability to the Sino-Indian boundary dispute, Tibet also has a few other strategic realities vis-a-vis India. Even if the PRC’s initial occupation of Tibet in 1950-51 had more to do with ‘face’ and with securing a buffer
zone for itself as per classic imperial Chinese strategy, there are now
other and equally-compelling reasons for the Chinese to want to maintain their hold on Tibet. These worry India, and one of these worries China. They have a real bearing on present and future Sino Indian relations, and will thus exert an influence on Chinese strategic thought regarding India. These are:
1. The geographically strategic position of Tibet.
2. The natural resources of Tibet: minerals and water.
3. The restive population of Tibet and the presence of the Dalai Lama
in India.
Strategic Location of Tibet: Geo-politically, densely-populated Han China is an island, bounded by the sea in the east, mountains in the south-west, and vast expanses of sparsely-populated deserts and steppe
to the west and north. Tibet forms the buffer between Han China and
the only other densely-populated area near China, the Indian sub continent. (Xinjiang forms the other buffer: between Han China and the Muslim regions of Central Asia to the west) The geographically strategic location of Tibet is evident from one look at any map of the region. Gingsburg and Mathos, in their study have stated: ‘He who holds Tibet dominates the Himalayan piedmont; he who dominates the
Himalayan piedmont threatens the Indian subcontinent; and he who threatens the Indian subcontinent may well have all of South-East Asia within his reach, and all of Asia.’ In this age of ballistic missiles and long-range cruise missiles, as a suitable area for siting missile bases it can hardly be surpassed. From Tibet even medium-range ballistic missiles can cover both India and Russian Siberia. Airfields in Tibet for suitable aircraft can cover all of the northern half of India. It is not surprising, therefore, that numerous of these have been constructed on the Tibetan plateau.
To be continued...