Indo-China stand-off: Would you boycott Chinese products?

Updated on: 29 July,2017 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai
Heli Shukla |

Amid the current Indo-China stand-off at Doklam, the cries to 'ban' and 'boycott' Chinese products have once again started doing the rounds on social media. But, can you shun products that not only come from India's largest trade partner, but have al

Illustrations/Uday Mohite

Why are the armies 'chicken's neck' and neck?
The current border stand-off began a month ago after India protested and stopped China's efforts for the extension of a road through a plateau known as Doklam. The plateau is known as the tri-junction because of the access it provides all three countries to their interior territories and has been a bone of contention between China and Bhutan, with both countries claiming their influence over it. New Delhi supports Thimphu's claim. Extending the road would give China more access to the 'chicken's neck', a corridor linking the northeast states to the Indian mainland.

Trade ties that bind
China and India have historically been trade partners, dating back to the time of the Silk Road, which was an important route for economic and cultural exchange. China replaced USA as India's largest trading partner in 2008, when bilateral trade with China reached $51.8 billion. Indo-China trade increased by 19.92% year-on-year in the first four months of 2017. India's exports to China increased by 45.29% year-on-year and imports from China saw 14.48% year-on-year growth in the same period.
(Source: indianembassy.org)