Boundary issues have always been a key focus in India-China relations. Highlighting the roles of history, policy, and diplomacy, this book traces the origins and development of the boundary problem during the British Raj. A.G. Noorani explains how British efforts to define a boundary in the western sector began immediately after the creation of Jammu & Kashmir in 1846. In contrast, in the eastern sector, such efforts only started sixty-five years later, amid perceived Chinese threats. Analyzing the roles of bureaucracy and diplomatic negotiations, the author offers a nuanced view of treaties, conventions, and internal debates among British officials with conflicting policies. Breaking new ground, this book evaluates the importance of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, and shows how diplomatic developments over the past century influenced the boundary issues between India and China, which eventually escalated into the dispute of 1959. The central argument is that history played a direct role in shaping effective policy. Based on archival research and unpublished sources, this volume includes twenty-two appendices and fourteen maps to offer a unique perspective on a long-standing problem.