The tensions caused by India's troops trespassing across the Sikkim section of the China-India border into Chinese territory show no signs of abating. This incident has brought back memories of colonial-era history and triggered fresh worries about a looming contest of will between the two giant Asian neighbors.

For China, the trespassing by Indian troops was unexpected and it is unacceptable as it happened in a section of the boundary that has hitherto been considered beyond dispute by both sides in the otherwise long drawn out and arduous boundary negotiations. The Sikkim section of the boundary was established by the 1890 Convention Between China and Great Britain Relating to Tibet and Sikkim, which was signed between Britain, the then colonial ruler of India, and China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Convention clearly marks Donglang as Chinese territory.

As is the norm under international law, the People's Republic of China inherited the boundary line between Donglang and Sikkim. On its part, India accepted the boundary as shown in letters from prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and through diplomatic notes and documents.