THE OLD SETTLERS OF SIKKIM

Chronology of India-China relations (1947 - 2002)
1947 India tries to consolidate its position as a sovereign independent nation as the civil strife between Communist forces led by Mao Zedong and the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek in China reaches its culmination.	1947	4 Dec 1947 Congress leader N G Ranga tells Parliament that India was aware of the fact that both the USSR and the United States wanted to establish their hold on China.
1948 Chiang Kai-shek expresses suspicion over a Tibetan delegation visiting India to attend the Asian Relations Conference.	1948	8 March 1948 India proclaims non-interference in China's internal matters and opts for non-alignment.
1 Oct 1949 People's Republic of China proclaimed, with Mao Zedong as the Chairman and Zhou Enlai as the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.	1949	30 Dec 1949 India becomes the second non-communist nation to recognize the Peoples' Republic of China the first being Burma.
31 Jan 1950 President Rajendra Prasad expresses his desire for an early exchange of diplomatic representatives.	1950	1 April 1950 K M Panikker appointed first Indian Ambassador to China.
7 Oct 1950 Chinese troops cross the Sino-Tibetan boundary, and move towards Lhasa.		Nov 1950 India opposes UN resolutions branding China as an aggressor in the Korean War.
6 Dec 1950 Nehru advocates China's membership in the United Nations in a Parliamentary debate held in New Delhi.	1951	May 1951 The Chinese capture the Tibetan Governor of Chamdo and made him sign a "17-point Agreement" in Peking, which concedes China's full suzerainty over Tibet.
5 Feb 1952 India expresses great satisfaction over the peaceful turn of events and establishes cultural contacts with China.	1952 1954	29 April 1954 Sino-Indian Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between India and Tibet region of China signed by Nehru and Zhou Enlai in Beijing.
15 May 1954 China and India sign the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence or Panchsheel. They are: (1) Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty; (2) Mutual non-aggression; (3) Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs; (4) Equality and mutual benefit, and (5) Peaceful coexistence		June 1954 Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai visits India for the first time, stresses on the five principles
25 Aug 1954 Nehru in the Lok Sabha welcomed China's inclusion in the Geneva Conference for recognition of China as a new Asian nation.		29 Sept 1954 India expresses regret at the General Assembly resolution postponing discussion of Communist China's membership in the UN. Taiwan was still recognised as China by the UN at that time.
14 Oct 1954 A Sino-Indian trade agreement signed in Beijing between Nehru and Zhou Enlai and Sino-Indian Friendship Associations established in both the countries.	1955	Feb 1955 Indian President Rajendra Prasad recognizes China's claims over Formosa (Now Taiwan) as justified in Parliament.
2 March 1955 India objects to the inclusion of a portion of India's northern frontier on the official map of China, saying it was a clear infringement of Panchsheel		1 April 1955 India signs a Protocol at Lhasa handing over to China the control of all communication services in Tibet.
April 1955 Nehru and Zhou Enlai pledge to promote friendly ties at the Asian-African conference at Bandung.	1956	Nov 1956 Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill mission.
18 Dec 1956 Chinese nationals who entered Ladakh were illegally detained and later sent back to China.	1957	Sept 1957 Indian Vice-President S. Radhakrishnan's visits China
4 Sept 1958 India officially objects to the inclusion of a big chunk of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial - an official organ of the Chinese Peoples' Republic.	1958 1959	23 Jan 1959 Zhou Enlai spells out for the first time China's claims to over 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.
3 April 1959 Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and crosses into Indian territory. India's decision to grant asylum to him sours relations with Beijing.		13 Aug 1959 China's offensive propaganda campaign for the liberation of Ladakh , Sikkim and Bhutan worries India.
25 Aug 1959 Chinese troops open fire on an Indian Picket near Migyitun in Eastern Ladakh killing one Indian soldier. They also overrun the Indian outpost at Longju, in North-eastern Ladakh.		7 Sept 1959 Nehru tables the First White Paper on India-China relations comprising notes, memoranda and letters exchanged between the Governments of India and China between April 1954 and August 1959 in Parliament.
8 Sept 1959 China refuses to accept the Mc Mohan Line with Zhou Enlai stating that China was not a signatory to the 1842 Peace Treaty between British India and England. Further, Beijing laid claims to almost 50,000 square miles of Indian territory in Sikkim and Bhutan.		20 Oct 1959 Chinese troops fire on an Indian patrol in the Aksai Chin area killing nine soldiers and capturing ten.
7 Nov 1959 Zhou Enlai proposes a 20 km withdrawal by forces from both sides of the Mcmohan line and Line of Actual Control.	1960	19 April 1960 A meeting in New Delhi between Zhou Enlai and Nehru to address the boundary question ends in deadlock.
25 April 1960 China refuses to acknowledge the Officials' Report - a detailed study of all historical documents, records, maps and other materials relevant to the boundary question - published by India as the basis for resolution of the boundary dispute.		3 June 1960 Chinese troops violates the Indian border in Shipki village in the NEFA region.
24 Oct 1960 Indian Opposition leaders report 52 violations of the Indian air space by the Chinese troops in NEFA, Uttar Pradesh and Ladakh.	1961	Feb 1961 China refuses to discuss the Sino-Bhutanese and Sino-Sikkimese boundary disputes and further occupies 12,000 square miles in the western sector of the Sino-Indian border.
July 1961 India's Secretary General of the External Affairs Ministry, R. K. Nehru's visit to China for improving ties proves futile.		31 Oct 1961 Chinese starts aggressive border patrolling and establishes new military formations, which start moving into Indian territory. .
21 Nov 1961 Fresh Chinese incursions into the Ladakh area.		Dec 1961 India under Nehru adopts the Forward Policy to stem the advancing Chinese frontier line. The Forward Policy involved the establishment of a few symbolic posts in Ladakh so that India might be in a position to take action to recover any territory within Chinese possession. It also sought to block potential lines of further Chinese advance.
April 1962 China issues ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of the Indian frontier personnel from the border posts.	1962	22 May 1962 Parliamentarian Hem Barua (Congress) in a Call Attention Notice in Parliament reports the indignation heaped on the Indian Embassy In Beijing, which was denied permission to celebrate the Republic day by the Chinese Government.
2 June 1962 China rejects India's demands to withdraw its forces from Indian territory.		3 June 1962 The Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between India and China lapses.
10 June 1962 Indian and Chinese soldiers face off within a 100yards of each other in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh and an armed clash was narrowly averted when the Chinese withdrew just at a time when India threatened to use force.		26 July 1962 Both sides indicate willingness to hold discussions on the basis of the Officials' Report which China earlier disregarded, for the resolution of the boundary dispute.
13 Aug 1962 The Indian Government moves a motion calling for consideration of the situation along the Indo-China border, particularly in the Ladakh region.		13 Sept 1962 China repeats its proposal for the withdrawal of the armed forces by both sides, 20km back from the Indian border.
20 Sept 1962 Chinese forces cross the Mc Mohan Line in the Thagla region 2 miles east of Dhola in NEFA and open fire on an auxiliary Indian post.		29 Sept 1962 Chinese forces launch another intensified attack in the North-eastern border.
6 Oct 1962 New Delhi again accuses China of intruding into Indian territory in the eastern sector and attacking Indian forces.		20 Oct 1962 China launches a massive multi-pronged attack all along the border from NEFA to Ladakh.
24 Oct 1962 China proposes a three-point cease-fire formula -- Both parties wouldrespect the Line of Actual Control, the armed forces would withdraw 20km from this line and; talks between the prime-ministers of both countries to seek a friendly settlement.		26 Oct 1962 India proclaims national emergency.
27 Oct 1962 Nehru rejects China's ceasefire proposal.		15 Nov 1962 A massive Chinese attack on the eastern front, Tawang, Walong in the western sector over run, Rezang La and the Chushul airport shelled. .
18 Nov 1962 Chinese troops capture Bomdila in the NEFA region		21 Nov 1962 China declares a unilateral ceasefire along the entire border andannounces withdrawal of its troops to position 20km behind the LAC.
8 Dec 1962 China sends a note signed by Zhou Enlai to India reiterating the three-point ceasefire formula. India accepts.		10 Dec 1962 Colombo proposals endorsed.(Six non-aligned nations--Egypt, Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Indonesia met in Colombo and formulated these proposals. The proposals, negotiated between Zhou Enlai and Nehru, stipulated Chinese withdrawal of 20km from the traditional customary lines as claimed by China, without any corresponding withdrawal on the Indian side. In the east, the LAC recognized by both governments was to be treated as a ceasefire line, while the status quo would be maintained in the middle sector.)

2 March 1963 China and Pakistan sign a boundary settlement in Beijing between Kashmir and Xinjiang where Pakistan ceded 5080 sq. km of PoK territory.	1963	23 March 1963 Official sources confirm induction of additional Chinese troops into Tibet, raising concerns in Delhi.
16 Oct 1964 China conducts its first nuclear explosion in Lop Nor.	1964	30 Dec 1964 Zhou Enlai warns that China had not relinquished its sovereignty over the 90,000 square km of territory south of Mc Mohan Line.
26 March 1965 Sino-Pak boundary protocol involving territory in Jammu and Kashmir signed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir between Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Pakistani President Ayub Khan.	1965	April 1965 China extends support to Pakistani aggression in Rann of Kutch.
27 Aug 1965 China accuses India of crossing the Sikkim-China boundary.		Sept 1965 China supports Pakistan during the Indo-Pak conflict in Chhamb across the international border of Jammu and Kashmir and officially accuses India of 'criminal aggression.'
30 Nov 1965 Chinese troops intrude into north Sikkim and NEFA once again.	1966	Jan 1966 China condemns the Tashkent Agreement between India and Pakistan as a product of joint US-Soviet plotting.
1 Jan 1969 India indicates its desire to conduct its relation with China on the principle of mutual respect of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.	1969 1970	1970 Informal contacts between the Indian and Chinese diplomats established.
25 Oct 1971 The UN General Assembly voted to give China's seat in UN to the Government of PRC, expelling Nationalist China functioning as the 'Republic of China' from Taiwan (Formosa).	1971	Dec 1971 Sino-Indian relations suffer a setback following the creation of Bangladesh.
July 1972 China vetoes an Indian sponsored resolution for the admittance of Bangladesh to the UN.	1972	14 March 197 China sends a new Charge d' Affaires Mr. Ma Mu-Ming to New Delhi after a lapse of 18 months raising fresh hopes for a Sino-Indian dialogue.
April 1973 China accuses India of committing aggression on Sikkim on the pretext of disturbances.	1973 1974	May 1974 India conducts its Peaceful Nuclear Explosion. China accuses India of nuclear blackmail by posing as a 'sub-super power'.
April 1975 China expresses strong condemnation and utmost indignation at merger of Sikkim with the Indian Union.	1975 1976	April 1976 India and China decide to restore the level of diplomatic representation in both countries to the ambassadorial status after a 15year diplomatic hiatus.
7 July 1976 K. R. Narayanan is appointed as the India's Ambassador to PRC.		20 Sept 1976 Chen Chao Yuan is appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to India.
Feb 1979 Indian Foreign Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visits China.	1979 1981	June 1981 Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hu visits India. Establishment of an annual dialogue at the level of Vice-Ministers .
15 Aug 1984 Indian Commerce Secretary Abid Hussain signs the Most Favoured Nation Agreement with the Chinese Vice-Minister Lu Xue Jian in Beijing.	1984 1986	1986 Differences surface over the precise limits of the Mc Mohan Line in theSumdorung Chu area of Arunachal Pradesh.
8 Dec 1986 Beijing express strong condemnation over the establishment of Arunachal Pradesh as a full fledged State of the Indian Union.	1987	May 1987 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sends PN Haskar as Special Envoy to China for high level discussion with Chinese leaders.
Dec1988 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visits China. Agreement to set up a Joint Working Group on Boundary question and a Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology signed.	1988 1991	Dec 1991 Chinese Premier Li Peng visits India after a gap of 31 years, pledges to resolve the boundary question through friendly consultations.
Sept 1993 Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao visits China, signs agreement on Border Peace and Tranquility and the setting up of the India-China Expert Group of Diplomatic and Military Officers to assist the work in Joint Working Group.	1993 1994	1994 Vice-President K R Narayanan visits China. Following this China refused to support Pakistan at the Human Rights Commission on the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
Aug 1995 India and China agree to pull back their troops on the Sumdorong Chu Valley in the eastern sector.	1995 1996	Nov 1996 Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits India, signs Agreement onConfidence Building Measures in the military field along the LAC in the India-China Border Areas.
Aug 1997 The India-China Joint Working Group meets in New Delhi. Instruments of ratification in respect to Confidence Building Measures agreement exchanged.	1997 1998	May 1998 Defence Minister George Fernandes reported claim that China was India's threat number one offends China.
11 May 1998 India conducts three nuclear tests in Pokhran range in Rajathan.		13 May 1998 India further conducts two more underground nuclear tests.
14 May 1998 China strongly condemns India's nuclear tests.		July 1998 China urges India and Pakistan to give up their nuclear ambitions and sign the NPT.
Aug 1998 India officially announces talks with China on the reopening of the Ladakh-Kailash-Mansarovar route.	1999	Feb 1999 China hails the policy of Bus Diplomacy between India and Pakistan.
June 1999 China displays neutrality on the Kargil conflict and agrees to establish a security mechanism with India.		22 Sept 1999 China objects to the creation of a new Indian Army Unit, the 14th corps, to be based in Leh to look after the Ladakh region.
28 Sept 1999 China asks New Delhi to stop the 'splitting activities' of Dalai Lama from Indian soil to improve bilateral relations.		24 Nov 1999 India and China hold detailed discussions in New Delhi on ways to settle their border row.
7 Jan 2000 Karmapa Lama flees China, reaches Dharamshala and joins the Dalai Lama.	2000	11 Jan 2000 Beijing warns that giving political asylum to the Karmapa would violate the five principles of peaceful coexistence.
14 Jan 2000 India officially declares to China that the 17th Karmapa has arrived in Dharamshala, but has not been granted refugee status.		22 Jan 2000 The Dalai Lama writes to the Prime Minister urging him to accord protection to the 17th Karmapa.
31 Jan 2000 The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army build a permanent road network and sets up bunkers 5km in the Indian side of the LAC in Ladakh's Aksai Chin area.		22 Feb 2000 India and China sign a bilateral trade agreement in Beijing to facilitate China's early entry into the WTO and an MOU for setting up a Joint Working Group in the field of steel.
23 Feb 2000 A five day extravaganza to promote trade and investment flagged off in India by Industry and Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran with Hong Kong chief executive officer Tung Chee Hwa.		6 March 2000 India and China initiate the first ever bilateral security dialogue in Beijing on global and regional issues of mutual interest.
1 April 2000 India and China commemorate 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.		28 April 2000 Beijing thanks India for support in defeating a US sponsored resolution in Geneva criticizing the Chinese record on human rights.
21 May 2000 The arrival of a delegation from India's National Defence College in China signals resumption of military ties, suspended after India's nuclear tests.	2001	9 Jan 2001 Sino-Indian leaders jointly agreed to form India-China Parliamentary Friendship Groups in their respective Parliaments following the visit of the Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples' Congress to India.
13 Jan 2001 India and China agree to counter terrorism together to maintain regional security and stability.		9 Feb 2001 Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Wi called on the Indian Foreign Secretary, Lalit Mansingh, in New Delhi. Decision to broaden relations by building new institutional contacts.
29 April 2001 China supports gradual evolvement of trilateral cooperation with Russia and India but rules out triangular alliance.		20 May 2001 Beijing invites Kanchi Shankaracharya on a tour of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou in October 2001.
6 Sept 2001 China deploys its first road mobile ICBMs capable of hitting some parts of western US.		21 Dec 2001 China urges both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to resolve their differences.
6 Jan 2002 The first Shanghai-Beijing-New Delhi direct passenger flight for boosting bilateral business ties and tourism announced by China.	2002	7 Jan 2002 'Shanghai Six' (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan) urge India and Pakistan to diffuse tension.
13 Jan 2002 Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visits India.		14 Jan 2002 Six MOUs signed in New Delhi To enhance cooperation in Science and Technology, outer space, tourism, phytosanitary measures and supply of hydrological data relating to the Brahmaputra river between India and China.
17 Jan 2002 Premier Zhu Rongji calls for joint work in Information Technology, economic cooperation and trade between India and China..		29 March 2002 India and China agree in Beijing to quicken the pace of LAC delineation in order to resolve the vexatious border dispute within a reasonable time-frame.
22 June 2002 China welcomes India's ambassador, Shiv Shankar Menon visit to Tibet and hopes it would help in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship.

Compiled by : Reshmi Fatima Kazi for rediff.com
SOURCE: REDIFF.COM