Sino-Indian Relations: Reading Suggestions

Background reading:

"Protracted Contest: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century", by John W.Garver, 2001.

http://www.amazon.com/Protracted-Contest-Sino-Indian-Rivalry-Twentieth/dp/0295980745/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223562357&sr=8-1

This book is the seminal work on Sino-Indian relations, analysing in depth the evolutions in Sino-Indian relations from India's independence to the end of the 90s. Undoubtedly the best historical analysis on the subject at present.

"The India-China Relationship: What the United States Needs to Know", Francine R.Frankel and Harry Harding (Ed.), 2004.

http://www.amazon.com/India-China-Relationship-United-States-Needs/dp/0231132379/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223562556&sr=1-1

This a most interesting and useful volume, combining the contributions of ten different renowned area experts, with people such as Susan Shirk, Sumit Ganguly, Ashley Tellis, etc.. Many different aspects of the relationship are discussed such as the border issue (by Sumit Ganguly), China's perceptions of India (Susan Shirk), the Indian strategic community's vision of China (Steven Hoffman). James Clad's analysis of convergent Chinese and Indian perspectives on the Global Order shows that the rapport is more multifaceted than one may at first believe, and Harry Harding's section on the implications for the United States is a useful reminder of the fact that relations in-between these two Asian giants are of far more than simply regional significance.

"China and India, Cooperation or Conflict?", Waheguru Pal Singh Sindhu and Jing-Dong Yuan, 2003.

http://www.amazon.com/China-India-Cooperation-Conflict-International/dp/1588261697/ref=pd_sim_b_5

This book concentrates on eight different issues: Tibet and Sikkim, mutual threat perceptions, nuclear nonproliferation,trade, terrorism, both countries's relationship with the United States and Pakistan and the impact of internal politics on the relationship. It is very informative and concise, often giving very precise information when it comes to military or technical matters.

"Making Sense of Chindia: Reflections on China and India", Jairam Ramesh, 2005.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Sense-Chindia-Reflections-China/dp/8187943955/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223562420&sr=1-2

This is a rather contemplative work, written by a senior Congress politician, Jairam Ramesh, who is presently Minister of State for Commerce and Power in the UPA government. The book is written by a self-avowed 'Nehruphile', who while remaining realistic, does not view the inevitability of conflict and confrontation between both countries as a foregone conclusion. It contains a short compilation of essays on issues as various as trade, the growing threat of HIV in both countries, and both countries' regional disparities. It's brevity means that it cannot really be viewed as a reference book, but it's a leisurely read and provides some interesting new perspectives.