CCP Deems Indo-China Border Dispute a ‘Legacy Issue.’ Analysts Say China’s Words Are a Means to an Expansionist End.

While claiming historical issues, China will change the status on the ground, says one expert.

Candles pay tribute to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley Clash between India and China, in Kolkata, India, on June 17, 2020. Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images

NEW DELHI—China has criticized the Indian government for making bilateral relations conditional on peace along the border between the two countries, deeming the dispute a “legacy issue.” However, experts say this narrative supports China’s “salami-slicing” tactics and ensures its larger interest in the region.

The remarks by the Chinese side were delivered on Jan. 25 by Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian, in response to a recent statement by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.