| Summary/Abstract |
Sovereignty over territory is the founding principle of international legal order and essential for the implementation of the sovereign rights of a State. Territorial disputes become commonplace among countries, mainly when bilateral agreements do not explicitly demarcate them. India and China are two Asian giants when it comes to population and economy. The recent cross-border tension between India and China has at its vortex the issue of the Doklam plateau region which shares borders with three countries namely India, Bhutan, and China and is popularly known as the “Tri-Junction.”
The present article re-visits the history of the Indo-China border dispute and tries to explain the legal aspects of border disputes under international law. It closely analyzes the principles applicable to these disputes and the decisions of various international institutions that are relevant. Furthermore, the article examines bilateral agreements to understand the possible violations and consequences under international law. It is argued that the peaceful co-existence between India and China must be of paramount importance to ensure Asian security and well-being. Keywords: India, China, Bhutan, Doklam, Territorial Disputes.
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