MAINS 2014
GS2
12.5 marks
With respect to the South China Sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region. In this context, discuss bilateral issues between India and China.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss India-China bilateral issues in the context of South China Sea tensions.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1South China Sea context: China's nine-dash line, island building, India supports freedom of navigation and UNCLOS; OVL in Vietnam≈35 words
- 2Bilateral issues: boundary disputes (LAC clashes), trade deficit, Chinese support to Pakistan (CPEC through PoK), Brahmaputra dams, stapled visas≈35 words
- 3Maritime: Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean (Gwadar, Hambantota), String of Pearls≈35 words
- 4Cooperation areas: BRICS, SCO, climate; India's approach: Quad, Act East, maritime partnerships≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
South China Sea context and India's stakeBilateral issuesMaritime competitionCooperationConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only describing South China Sea disputes without bilateral issues
- No updates after 2014 (Galwan, PCA award)
Draw this
- Map of South China Sea with nine-dash line and India's partners
Value addition
- CasePermanent Court of Arbitration award (July 2016, Philippines v China) rejected China's nine-dash line claims.PCA, 2016
- ExampleGalwan Valley clash in June 2020 killed 20 Indian soldiers, the first deadly LAC clash since 1975.Government of India
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 47 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 21 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 47 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 50 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.