In China, 1962 anniversary brings new attention to ‘forgotten’ war

In China, 1962 anniversary brings new attention to ‘forgotten’ war

Subject : International Relations /Post Independence Consolidation

Context :On the 60th anniversary of the India-China war, which began with a Chinese attack on October 20, 1962,China’s military and media are paying renewed attention to a war that was largely previously sidelined in official Chinese military histories.

Concept :

Sino-Indian War 1962

• The Sino-India war, better known as the Indo-China war was a battle that took place between India and China from October 20 to November 21 in 1962.
• India never anticipated that China could wage a war but China proved it wrong when it launched an attack on India on October 20, 1962

Events that led to war

• The Himalayan border dispute was the chief pretext of the war.

Boundary Dispute :

• China claimed the Aksai Chin area in Ladakh, Kashmir and the Tawang area in Arunachal Pradesh as its own (Aksai Chin as part of its Xingjiang and Tawang as part of Tibet).
• Aksai Chin :Aksai Chin is the southwestward extension of the Tibetan plateau and it is a desert of salt flats that is about 5000 m above sea level.
• The eastern front where the war took place, i.e., Arunachal Pradesh is a mountainous region having many peaks above 7000 m over sea level.

Occupation of Tibet :

• Things took a turn for the worse when China announced its occupation of Tibet. India proposed negotiations on the Tibet issue.
• After the 1959 Tibet uprising, India had given asylum to the Dalai Lama and this obviously did not go down well with the Chinese. China perceived India as a threat to its rule over Tibet and this was also a major reason for the war.

Failure of bilateral talks

• In 1960, the Chinese premier Zhou Enlai suggested that if India gave up its claim over Aksai Chin, China would drop its claim in Arunachal Pradesh (then called the North Eastern Frontier Agency).
• But Nehru rejected this outright saying China had no legitimate claims over both the areas.

Forward Policy of India :

• India started following a ‘Forward Policy’ where it began to send troops and patrols to disputed border areas. Some of these troops even went beyond the Indian borders. This move deteriorated relations between both nations.

Aftermath of War

• China declared a ceasefire on 21 November since it reached its claim lines, and also stated that from December 1, 1962, the Chinese frontier guards would retreat 20 km behind the Line of Actual Control.
• After the war, India increased its support for Tibetan refugees and revolutionaries.