Preface
The territorial issue has always been regarded as the absolute bottom line of a state and an important manifestation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No country will allow its territory to be violated or provoked, and will spare no effort to safeguard its homeland security and territorial integrity.
In China's foreign policy, it has always regarded safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity as its top priority, resolutely defended its legitimate rights and interests, and will not easily compromise or back down. Whether it is the South China Sea Zhudao, the Diaoyu Dao, the China-India border, or the China-Russia border, China has full confidence and capability to safeguard its territorial security and regional peace and stability.
1. Sikkim: a former vassal and present-day Indian territory
Sikkim, located in eastern Tibet, China, is one of China's traditional vassal states and an important region in Chinese history. During the Qing Dynasty, Sikkim has always been incorporated into China's territory with a policy of "peace and affinity", and has become a friendly envoy between China and India. However, as the Qing dynasty weakened, outside powers began to look at Sikkim, and finally in the 1890 Sino-British Treaty of Tibet-India, the Qing government was forced to cede Sikkim to make it an Indian state.
Since then, the fate of Sikkim has been closely linked to that of India and has become an important part of the Sino-Indian border issue. Although China has not recognized the validity of the Sino-British Tibet-India Treaty and still insists that Sikkim is part of China, India treats it as a "constitutional territory" and has consolidated its de facto control over Sikkim in various ways.
Today, Sikkim is a state in India and has a complete administrative and political system, just like the rest of India. Internationally, India has also actively promoted that "Sikkim is an inalienable part of its territory", and has continuously increased its infrastructure construction and military deployment in Sikkim, trying to consolidate its control over Sikkim through the means of strength.
2. Vladivostok: once a primorsky fortress, today Russian territory
Vladivostok, an important port city in northeastern China, is also an important strategic location in the Far East. During the Qing Dynasty, Vladivostok was once China's territory and an important coastal defense fortress, which was of great significance for safeguarding the country's maritime rights and interests and border security. However, in the middle of the 19th century, Tsarist Russia took the opportunity to invade Northeast China, and finally forcibly ceded Vladivostok and its vicinity in the Sino-Russian Treaty of Beijing in 1858 and the Sino-Russian Treaty of Beijing in 1860, making it Russian territory.
Since then, Vladivostok, an ancient city in China, has been reduced to a part of other countries, and has become an important crux of the Sino-Russian border issue. Although China has repeatedly demanded the recovery of Vladivostok in its subsequent diplomatic representations and hopes that the Sino-Russian border issue can be resolved through peaceful means, it has repeatedly hit a wall and has not made substantial progress.
Today, Vladivostok is an important city in Russia, as well as the political, economic and cultural center of the Far East, and is increasingly connected with China. Internationally, Russia also regards Vladivostok as a "part of the motherland" and continues to increase its economic investment and development in Vladivostok, trying to consolidate its actual control over Vladivostok through prosperity and development.
3. Lessons from history
Looking back at the places lost in China's history due to territorial issues, whether it is Sikkim or Vladivostok, we deeply realize that a country's strength and prosperity do not rely only on verbal declarations and external ostentation, but also need to be supported by real strength and capital.
At the same time, the settlement of the territorial issue also requires comprehensive consideration of the factors of all parties, and it is not possible to simply and rudely forcibly reconquest, still less to infinitely magnify historical hatred and disputes. Only through rational thinking and dialogue on an equal footing can we find lasting and stable solutions, and leave a valuable historical lesson for future generations to better face and deal with similar problems.
epilogue
The territorial issue is a major issue involving the fundamental interests of the state and national sentiments, and it also requires the common attention and participation of the whole society. Both scholars and ordinary people can start from their own posts to contribute to the prosperity of the motherland and inject more positive energy into the peace and development of the world.
On the road ahead, China will continue to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind and make new and greater contributions to the cause of world peace and development.