Few thoughts on Indo-Chinese tussle
India and China have a rich and long history, both are today considered major powers in the world and both have huge population. The recent clashes in the Himalayan border at Galwan Valley is making news and is talked about but the Indo-Chinese tussle dates back to several decades.
In October, 1962 China attacked India, it was sudden and India was not prepared. It was a standoff between 10,000-20,000 Indian troops and 80,000 Chinese troops. The war continued for about a month and ended on November 21, after China declared a ceasefire.
China was always aggressive and built a road connecting Xinjiang and western Tibet in the 1950s. Indians did not learn of the existence of the road until 1957, which was confirmed when the road was shown in Chinese maps published in 1958. Today, it is planning to construct a strategic corridor that would extend till Pakistan.
While there is no official border, there is a forbidden stretch of land high in the Himalayas dividing the two nations. A 2,100-mile-long Line of Actual Control. Every few years, there is a fight as soldiers exchange blows and at times lives are lost.
Nathu La and Cho La clashes of 1967
The Nathu La and Cho La clashes were a series of military clashes in 1967, between India and China alongside the border of the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, then an Indian protectorate. The Nathu La clashes started on 11 September 1967, when the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched an attack on Indian posts at Nathu La, and lasted till 15 September 1967. In October 1967, another military duel took place at Cho La and ended on the same day.
The Doklam Military Standoff in 2017
In June, a military standoff occurred between India and China in the disputed territory of Doklam, near the Doka La pass. On June 16, 2017, the Chinese brought heavy road building equipment to the Doklam region and began constructing a road in the disputed area. Previously, China had built a dirt road terminating at Doka La where Indian troops were stationed. They would conduct foot patrol from this point up till the Royal Bhutanese Army (RBA) post at Jampheri Ridge.
Position on Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh
Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh both belong to North Eastern Region of India. The states of North Eastern Region are officially recognised under the North Eastern Council [NEC], constituted in1971 as the acting agency for the development of north eastern states. Long after introduction of NEC, Sikkim formed part of the North Eastern Region as the eighth state in 2002. India’s Look-East connectivity projects connect Northeast India to China and ASEAN. Guwahati city in Assam is called the Gateway to the North East and is the largest Metropolis in North East India.
