A Himalayan business pass
The 1962 border clash between India and China put an end to the trade and fortunes of frontier peoples. In fact, the region was almost sealed off for several decades. Offensive Chinese radio broadcasts in the bordering areas, such as across Nathu La from July 1966, escalating to clashes in 1967, meant further freezing of any contacts. Sikkim's decision to join the Indian Union in 1975 became an eyesore to China which till 2003 continued to accuse India of "illegally occupying" Sikkim.
With normalisation of India-China relations, came the proposal in March 1994 to hold border meetings at Nathu La. Gradually other events followed. On November 21, 1999, a telephone link was established in Sikkim sector between Yatung garrison in Tibet and the 17th Mountain Division of the Indian Army to keep each other informed of activities along the border and "defuse border tensions".
On April 1, 2000, a commemorative border meeting took place between Nathu La Brigade of India and Yatung garrison of the Chinese army.
Image: In this photograph dated August 2003, a Chinese soldier (right) interacts with an Indian soldier at Nathu La
Photograph: Str/AFP/Getty Images
Also See:
Wen Jiabao in India: Complete coverage