Articles in Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/

The Case of Demchok

The Case of Demchok

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 19 May , 2017

On August 14, 1939, as he camped near Gartok, one of the three British (Indian) Trade Agencies in Tibet, Rai Bahadur Dr Kanshi Ram, the British Trade Agent (BTA) in Western Tibet, found finally...

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The Important India-Japan Relations

The Important India-Japan Relations

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 31 Jan , 2017

On New Year’s Eve, President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning to China’s neighbours: “We adhere to peaceful development, and resolutely safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime...

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More Roads to the Tibet Borders

More Roads to the Tibet Borders

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 10 Dec , 2016

China actively continues to invest on infrastructure towards Tibet’s borders with its neighbours. According to Kangba TV, a new Yunnan-Tibet highway is under construction. The project will...

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'Hot' visit in Ulaanbaatar: Why China is again upset?

'Hot' visit in Ulaanbaatar: Why China is again upset?

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 21 Nov , 2016

Simply because the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan religious leader, has been invited for a four-day visit to Mongolia. According to China Radio International (CRI), Beijing has strongly urged Mongolia...

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It pays to be tough with China

It pays to be tough with China

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 17 Nov , 2016

The change in Chinese maps began with the objective to protect a new road linking Tibet to Xinjiang in Aksai Chin area in the mid-1950s. Interesting news has been coming in from the high plateau...

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Tibet's Party Boss visits Indian Border

Tibet's Party Boss visits Indian Border

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 06 Nov , 2016

According to The China Daily, Wu Yingjie, the Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, visited Yümé (or Yumai) ‘the most sparsely populated town in China’ on October 12.  The...

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The Most Remote Indian Village on the Indo-Tibet Border

The Most Remote Indian Village on the Indo-Tibet Border

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 17 Oct , 2016

I am posting below an telling email received from the most remote Indian village on the Indo-Tibet border. I have repeatedly mentioned on this blog the difficulty to connect the last village of...

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China Loves Tibet: An Unacknowledged Victory for the Dalai Lama?

China Loves Tibet: An Unacknowledged Victory for the Dalai Lama?

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 14 Oct , 2016

There was a time when the Chinese considered Tibet the most backward, uncultured part of the Middle Kingdom, mainly inhabited by barbarians. This is not the case anymore and this has important...

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Panchsheel: It is right for Our Country, for Asia and for the World or Born...

Panchsheel: It is right for Our Country, for Asia and for the World or Born...

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 25 Sep , 2016

The ‘Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between Tibet Region of China and India’ was signed April 29, 1954 in Beijing. It has remained (in) famous for its preamble, containing the Five...

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Union Territory Status for Ladakh?

Union Territory Status for Ladakh?

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 23 Aug , 2016

Violence has again erupted in Kashmir.  More than ever, Islamabad seems determined to create problems for India in the Valley. And it is not covert anymore! On the occasion of Pakistan’s...

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Mr Wang, Reopen Demchok

Mr Wang, Reopen Demchok

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 09 Aug , 2016

In my previous post, I mentioned the railway lines which will soon reach Purang/Taklakot, north of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand and Yatung in the Chumbi Valley, sandwiched between Sikkim...

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Two New Chinese Railway Lines to the Indian Border

Two New Chinese Railway Lines to the Indian Border

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 06 Aug , 2016

The China Daily reported today that a new ‘Himalayan rail route’ has been ‘endorsed’ by Beijing. According to the Chinese official publication: “A Himalayan train ride at more than 100...

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For a Few Tanks More

For a Few Tanks More

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 22 Jul , 2016

The Chinese are not happy! You may wonder why again? Last week, it was about the announcement of the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The International Tribunal in The Hague...

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Chinese Irredentism and the Great Rejuvenation

Chinese Irredentism and the Great Rejuvenation

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 20 Jul , 2016

“The great rejuvenation of Chinese nation is an unstoppable historical trend that won’t be diverted by the will of any individual country or person,” is how a Chinese ‘expert’ reacted...

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Dual-use Airport is a win-win move, says China

Dual-use Airport is a win-win move, says China

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 08 Jul , 2016

As the Dalai Lama, the apostle of peace, celebrates his 81st birthday in Karnataka, China is reinforcing its war preparation on the Tibetan plateau. It does not mean that a conflict is imminent,...

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Finally Roads to the Borders?

Finally Roads to the Borders?

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 28 Jun , 2016

Is the Indian Government slowly waking up from its slumber?  It seems so, but it is wise to not celebrate too early. Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that his government...

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No Religious Discrimination in China?

No Religious Discrimination in China?

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 15 Jun , 2016

Beijing insists that there is no religious discrimination in China, particularly against the Muslim populations (Uyghurs) of Xinjiang. Religious freedom has reached an ‘unparalleled’ level; it...

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The Lonely Man of China

The Lonely Man of China

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 15 Apr , 2016

Xi Jinping seems more and more the lonely man of China. It is perhaps what happens when one reaches the top alone. To add to the Chinese President’s woes, the ‘Panama Papers’ named his...

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Tibet ...with Chinese Characteristics

Tibet ...with Chinese Characteristics

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 18 Jan , 2016

A few weeks ago, The New York Times published a stunning photo feature on a horse festival held in the Batang Grasslands, near Jyekundo in Eastern Tibet (today Qinghai province of China). Yushu,...

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When Nehru was taken for a ride by Mao

When Nehru was taken for a ride by Mao

By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Courtesy: http://claudearpi.blogspot.in/ | Date: 10 Jan , 2016

One often-asked question is: why did India not take a stronger stand on the Tibet issue in October/November 1950, when Eastern Tibet was invaded by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army? One of...

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