A New Understanding of the “McMahon Line” in Border Discussions between

　　ABSTRACT: Throughout the history of Chinese land boundary surveying and demarcation, Sino-Myanmar border negotiations from the late 1950s to the early 1960s undoubtedly represent China’s most successful model of border dispute resolution, and provide us with a source of rich historical experience and practical inspiration. What is critical to consider is the way that Chinese academics treat the extremely sensitive issue of the McMahon Line within the context of these talks. On the one hand, Chinese scholars contend that the McMahon Line between China and Myanmar is based on an illegal treaty, is not binding, and should not be accepted; on the other hand, they also assert on the basis of historical reality that it represents the traditional customary boundary line between the two states, and should serve as an important source of historical precedent for demarcating the border (as it basically overlaps with the customary boundary line that Chinese scholars envision). These two contradictory views have long co-existed. The author contends that the basic principles and thinking applied in the resolution of the Sino-Myanmar border talks, which might be characterized as “respecting history and reality” and “mutual understanding and accommodation,” represent an importance source of reference and precedent for the subsequent 13 border talks that China has been involved in. At the same time, the resolution of the Sino-Myanmar border dispute in no way changes the long standing viewpoint of the Chinese government that the McMahon Line is illegal and cannot be accepted. As such, the McMahon Line cannot be taken as a legal precedent for or applied to Sino-Indian border talks. Instead its use in Sino-Myanmar border discussions should be seen as a special and extraordinary case.