wanderer

China and India have a border dispute traced back to 1910s. Chinese Army waged a war in 1962, defeated the India, took over big spate of land between the two countries and then retreated back to the line 'of actual control', status quo was remained ever since. Now several pieces of land by the gelid Himalaya, probably the most remote human habitat sites, ignite not only the interest of India and China, but the Western media. New York Times sent journalists for tour, Wall Street Journal stepped in later and had a detailed coverage last Friday. What's interesting is the responses from readers attached to the report. Once again, comments overshadow the original article, those who are well-rounded, plus those who think they are, and those who are intelligent and who claim they are, join the word fight. People take a stand, make a shot, and then being shot. It's entetaining and pedogogic. An India ridiculed his fellow Indian, bunch of Chinese lashed out an Chinese-born American, and a White guy fought with a white guy. Not surprisingly, Indian camp and Chinese camp had direct punch exchange. A small excerpt from the tip of iceberg.

Pranay Manocha: I think the two commenters before me (clearly Chinese) have been fed too much propaganda. This strategy of the Chinese army to take land inch by inch and to annoy the border-folk till someone from the Indian side is forced to retaliate reeks of the tactics employed by Nazis before they attacked Poland (sorry about the comparison, but there you have have it).

This is clearly not a trap set by the WSJ. This has been reported for months on end in Indian media - and rightly so because unlike in China, we have Freedom of Information and there is (thankfully) investigative reporting as well. It would do India well to be wary of China for the foreseeable future.

That aside, it makes natural sense for the US and India to be stronger allies. They are the world's two largest democracies and have many shared values. 

XIE MUYI: Actually, you have been fed too much progaganda.

Ran Smingh: Mr. XIE,

I think you should go back and read history of China and India relation. It was Mr. Nehru who brought China in world community. In response to this China betrayed INDIA in 1962.

India is not Pakistan that will sing Chinese Song because we have our own Song. From 10-15 years now you will see a different India in terms of Its Economy and Military Power.

Raksha Tripathi: Ran,

I am not sure what you mean by "China betrayed India". Was "Forward Policy" by Nehru not a betryal to Chinese? One of the many dumb things Nehru did in his life time.

The fact of the matter is India lost 62 war with China. Lets not forget that it were Chinese who declared a unilateral ceasefire after achieving their strategic objectives in eastern/western fronts and retreated once the war was over. India is unnecessarily fixated about Aksai Chin (due to Kashmir), the moment it stops its rhetoric abut Aksai Chin, Chinese would stop claiming Arunanchal Pradesh (due to Chinese fixation about Tibet). There needs to be an amicable border issue resolution with China, in my opinion.

India already has a rogue neighbor -- read Pakistan, any further confrontation with China makes no sense, politically, economically or in any other way. The same applies to Chinese too. They have got their own internal/external issues, any military confrontation with India will be harmful to them as well.

XIE MUYI: Ran,
Is that all what your history courses have told you?
Do you know Forward Policy?
Do you know China declared unilateral cease-fire and withdrew to pre-war position?


"From 10-15 years now you will see a different India in terms of Its Economy and Military Power."
Those angry young people in China always say this kind of words.
 
.......

More rounds of fights ensued, they are competing to be the wisest and meanest individual after Winston Churchill. Speaking of whom, no one seems to be in par of his highness. Some anecdotes shown later.

Happy reading.