This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the India-China boundary dispute, focusing specifically on the dynamic Eastern Sector (Arunachal Pradesh). It traces the historical and legal origins of the conflict, from the 1914 Simla Convention and the establishment of the McMahon Line to the complex diplomatic negotiations of the post-independence era. The study argues that China’s maximalist claims in the East are less about genuine historical sovereignty and more about strategic leverage—aimed primarily at compelling India to recognize the status quo in Aksai Chin.

By examining key turning points—including the 1962 war, the stalled border talks of the 1980s, and the aggressive shift in Chinese posture since 2017—the report decodes the current phase of “grey-zone” contestation. It assesses the implications of new infrastructure races, the “Tibet Question,” and the strategic role of border populations, offering a forward-looking framework for understanding the future stability of the Eastern Himalayas.