The unresolved border dispute, spanning three contested sectors in the Himalayas, remains at the heart of these looping tensions. Tibet—particularly questions surrounding the Dalai Lama’s role and succession—adds another layer of strain. The triangular relationship between India, Pakistan, and China further deepens mistrust, already amplified by rising Chinese and Indian nationalism. Together, these factors have made it increasingly difficult to revive the spirit of the Panchsheel Agreement, which delineated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence between India and China, signed more than 70 years ago.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in August, followed by New Delhi’s decision to resume issuing visas to Chinese citizens and the gradual restoration of direct flights between the two countries, has set in motion yet another loop in India-China relations. This recurring pattern—alternating between optimism and confrontation—has replayed itself for decades. The latest loop may well follow the same trajectory, ending once again in border skirmishes or diplomatic friction. Unless both sides develop a credible mechanism to address the boundary dispute and manage their deep strategic mistrust, t
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