Relation between India and China (1949 to 1954-55) India and China are two big giants of Asia:

(i) As a result of the communist revolution in 1949, China became the People's Republic of China (PRC), under the leadership of Mao Zedong. China's leaders regarded India as China's rival for the leadership of non-white people of the world. India, on the other hand, tried to come close to China.

(ii) It was the first non-communist country to recognize communist China in 1949. India fully supported China's claim for membership in the United Nations. It also acknowledged China's claim over Formosa (Taiwan). It refused to be a party to the peace treaty with Japan with China.

(iii) In the Korean crisis too, India refused to brand China as aggressor when China intervened on behalf of North Korea. In fact India supported China even though the Western bloc, especially USA was displeased with it.

(iv) Nehru's China policy received the first jolt in 1950, when China occupied Tibet in 1950. It is important to remember in this context that India had long term interest in Tibet because it was a buffer lying between India and China. India even enjoyed certain special privileges in Tibet. Therefore, direct Chinese control over (Tibet) was likely to endanger these, and India's security.

(v) India's suggestions for a peaceful settlement of the Tibet problem were treated as interference by the communist regime. Gradually, the Tibetans grew restless under China's yoke and rose in revolt in 1959.

(vi) China ruthlessly suppressed the movement and declared Tibet as an integral part of China. The head of Tibet Dalai Lama fled and took shelter in India while Tibet lost whatever autonomy it still enjoyed. The granting of political shelter to the Dalai Lama by India added to China's distrust.

(vii) China appreciated India's neutral and mediatory role in easing the Korean problem (1950-53). Thus began a period of friendship between the two countries, with the signing of the Sino-Indian Treaty of friendship in 1954. This treaty put a seal of approval upon Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. The Preamble of the treaty embodies the famous 'Panchsheel Principles'.

(viii) The Panchsheel Agreement initiated a period of relaxed relationship, marked by the slogan of Hindi Chini Bhat Bhai. It is interesting to note that at the Bandung Conference (1955), Nehru actively brought China into the fold of Afro-Asian solidarity.