Claude Arpi
Mr Claude Arpi is French-born author, journalist, historian and Tibetologist. He is the author of several books including India-Tibet Relations (1947-1962) in 4 volumes and The Fate of Tibet: When Big Insects Eat Small Insects. He has written several articles on Tibet, China, India and Indo-French relations. He is the director of the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture at Auroville.
Articles Lists
Aksai Chin: Is History Repeating Itself?
On February 10, China Daily Global announced Tibet’s plan “to upgrade the regional rail network”. The Development and Reform Commission of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) released a three-phase development plan for the railway on the Tibetan plateau: “The TAR plans to have 4,000 kilomete
The Strategic Ladakh Range
Something extraordinary happened south of Pangong Tso (lake) in the night of August 29, 2020; the ‘Special Frontier Force’ (SFF), also known as Establishment 22 or Vikas Regiment occupied the heights of the Kailash Range. Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, a former Director General of Military Operations,
Where is the Henderson-Brooks-Bhagat Report?
Sixty years ago, traumatic events took place on the Northern borders of India; undoubtedly, the Sino-Indian conflict in October/November 1962 is an episode which marked the Indian psyche. Though many facets of what happened in October 1962 have already been discussed, many remain to be openly deb
A New Narrative for 1962
During the coming weeks, via its media, China is going to reiterate Beijing’s narrative of the 1962 border conflict with India. Already Zhang Xiaokang, the daughter of Gen Zhang Guohua, the commander of the Chinese forces who attacked India in 1962, is working on a book answering, “One Hundre
Double Standards with Chinese Characteristics
June 15 is a special day in the Middle Kingdom; it is the birthday of the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China. In 2020, probably wanting to please China’s new emperor, an officer of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to change the boundary in the Galwan sector and advance
A Foreign Policy Aligned With India’s Interests
India’s Foreign Policy is changing. Not towards non-alignment, as most foreign commentators have written, but towards ‘alignment’ with India’s interests …as well as common sense. On April 11, during the 4th edition of the India-US 2+2 Dialogue, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar
Stability and Succession in Tibet
In 2011, Xi Jinping, then Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China, stated that China should “govern the nation by governing the borders; govern the borders by first stabilizing Tibet; ensure social harmony and stability in Tibet and strengthen the development of border regions”. Si
War in Ukraine and the “Butterfly Effect”
“The Times They Are a-Changin”, wrote the poet. It has never rung so true as during the past two years; since a Chinese virus appeared in Wuhan and spread death and chaos all over the planet. During the last few months, the changes seem to take place at a faster pace. Among the innumerable co
Where is China Going?
Soon the Games are over. The Emperor of China, Xi Jinping, with his colleagues of the Politburo, had planned a grand show to prove to the world that the Middle Kingdom was one of the two most powerful players on the planet (if not the most). It is a partial failure; as The Nikkei in Tokyo titles:
China’s New Border Law – For What?
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) seems to be in turmoil. Constant changes have been taking place at the highest level, particularly with the generals posted on the border with India; this could partially explain the need for a new Land Boundary Law in China. We shall come back to it. For now,
The Importance of Tibet – ‘Ethnic Work’ in Progress
Why are Members of the politburo of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Committee so attracted by Tibet these days? During the last two months, ten out of the twenty-five members of the politburo travelled to the Roof of the World. One remembers a Party Secretary, who later became Chin