China-India Border Dispute: A Study from Deterrance Perspective

　　ABSTRACT: In late 1950s and early 1960s, China intended to deter India by force before their border dispute escalated into military conflict. However, it did not work. From the perspective of deterrence, this paper argues that the key point is the wrong perception of China’s deterrent signal by Indian intelligence system, mainly Indian Intelligence Bureau. This perception has two roots: objective conscious cognitive bias and subjective conscious cognitive bias. Both cognitive biases made Indian intelligence system fail to understand China’s deterrent signal, and fail to provide strategic judgment to Nehru administration. This led to the border conflict between China and India in 1962.