Macmohan line acts as the international boundary between which two countries?

Question

Vedantu Content Team · Accepted Answer

Answer: India and China

Explanation:

The McMahon Line serves as the international boundary between India and China, specifically marking the border between the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This 890-kilometer long boundary line runs along the eastern sector of the India-China border and has been a significant point of discussion in diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Named after Sir Henry McMahon, the British colonial administrator who drew this line during the Simla Convention of 1914, the McMahon Line was established through negotiations between British India, Tibet, and China. However, while the Tibetan representatives agreed to this boundary demarcation, the Chinese government refused to sign the final agreement, leading to ongoing disputes about its legitimacy.

The line generally follows the ridge of the Himalayas and represents India's northeastern international boundary. From India's perspective, this line is considered the legal and recognized international border, and the territory south of it, including Arunachal Pradesh, is an integral part of India. The Indian government has consistently maintained this position since independence in 1947.

China, however, does not recognize the McMahon Line as a valid boundary and considers it a product of British imperialism. The Chinese government claims that the Simla Convention was illegal since China did not sign it, and therefore disputes India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as "South Tibet."

This boundary dispute has been a major factor in India-China relations and was one of the causes of the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Despite multiple rounds of talks and confidence-building measures over the decades, the McMahon Line remains a contentious issue between the two Asian giants. Both countries have maintained military presence along this border, and it continues to be an active area of diplomatic engagement and occasional tensions.