India - China: Relations And Developments-2

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link<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->W. H. Johnson, a civil servant with the Survey of India proposed the "Johnson Line" (also known as the "Johnson-Ardagh Line") in 1865, which puts Aksai Chin in Kashmir.[3] This line was never presented to the Chinese[3]. Johnson presented this line to the Maharaja of Kashmir, who then claimed the 18,000 square kilometres contained within.[3] The British government had some doubts on the validity of the Johnson Line[4][3] and Johnson was censured[5], but the Chinese had already Shahidulla in 1890 before the issue was decided[3]. By 1892, China had erected boundary markets at Karakoram Pass.[4]

At this time, Britain and China were allies and Britain was principally concerned that Aksai Chin not fall into Russian hands.[3] When China showed an interest in Aksai Chin, Britain proposed a revised boundary, called the MacCartney-Macdonald Line, which puts most of Aksai Chin in Chinese territory.[3]. This border, which set the border along the Karakoram Mountains, was proposed and supported by British officials for a number of reasons. The Karakoram Mountains formed a natural boundary, which would set the British borders up to the Indus River watershed while leaving the Tarim River watershed in Chinese control, and Chinese control of this tract would present a further obstacle to Russian advance in Central Asia.[5] In 1899, the British presented this line to the Chinese, who raised no objection to it.[3] This line is approximately the same as the current Line of Actual Control.[3] Both lines were used on British maps of India
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