(Baonghean.vn) - Border tensions between China and India have been increasing in recent days. Previously, in 1962, there was a border conflict between the two countries.
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| The Sino-Indian Border War, also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict, was a war fought between the People's Republic of China and India. The main cause of the war was the dispute over the Aksai Chin border region and the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls South Tibet. Photo source: Sina. |
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| The border war between the two sides officially began on October 10, 1962 when the Chinese army launched a series of premeditated attacks in the Ladakh region and along the McMahon Line 10 days later. A few months before that, the two sides had had small conflicts with bare hands and weapons along the border, but those were only spontaneous conflicts. This was officially the first large-scale and calculated attack. Photo source: Sina. |
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| This area has very rugged terrain that has caused many difficulties for both sides in the war. Specifically, the war took place at an altitude of up to 4250 meters, in addition, the Chinese and Indian armies at this time were also poorly equipped, with nothing but... large numbers of troops. Photo source: Sina. |
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| Logistics for both sides are very difficult. Although the terrain is easier to access the battlefield, the Chinese side needs a larger amount of logistics goods because they have up to 80,000 troops at the front line. The Indian side, although the transportation system and terrain are more difficult to access the battlefield, only needs to worry about logistics for about 10-12,000 troops. Photo source: Sina. |
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| In addition to the border conflict taking place at very high altitudes, this month-long war also did not have the presence of the Air Force of the two countries because, as mentioned above, the Chinese and Indian armies at that time were too poor and backward. The Chinese units participating in the war were mainly Mountain soldiers brought here from the mountainous border areas of this country. Photo source: Sina. |
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| With its overwhelming force of soldiers, the Chinese side quickly advanced deep into the Indian border. It was not until early November 1962 that India launched significant counterattacks against China, forcing China to retreat. However, by the end of the war, the entire Aksai Chin region had been taken over by China. Photo source: Sina. |
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| The terrain was heavily fragmented by mountains, with absolutely no roads to move around. Soldiers and logistics in the Sino-Indian war were forced to walk or use horses and mules to carry goods. Photo source: Sina. |
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| An Indian Army Mi-4 helicopter was abandoned on the mountainside. Helicopters of this era had very weak engines, making it difficult to fly to an altitude of about 4,000 meters due to the thin air, which did not create enough lift for the aircraft. Photo source: Sina. |
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| Participating in this war, the Chinese side mobilized 80,000 troops under the command of General Truong Quoc Hoa. The Indian side was completely passive and only had about 10,000-12,000 troops along the border where the conflict occurred under the command of General Brij Mohan Kaul. Photo source: Sina. |
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| Passive, surprised and unable to predict the enemy forces, the Indian side paid a heavy price when it completely lost control of the Aksai Chin region. The loss of human life was declared by the Indian side as 3,128 soldiers killed, 3,123 soldiers captured, about 1,500 wounded and 1,696 soldiers missing. Photo source: Sina. |
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| According to figures released by China, the country had 1,460 soldiers killed and 569 injured. Photo source: Sina. |
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| An Indian soldier thanks Chinese doctors for treating him after being injured. On November 19, after India was forced to withdraw from several hotspots on the border due to heavy casualties, China also unilaterally declared a ceasefire. Photo source: Sina. |
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| The ceasefire order was brought to the battlefield on the night of November 20th to the morning of November 21st, 1962. On November 21st, the Chinese side officially began to cease fire, moving to the pacification phase, consolidating the formation and increasing the defense line because at this time, China still thought that India would attack again to retake the Aksai Chin region. Photo: Indian army weapons confiscated by the Chinese side and put on display. Photo source: Sina. |
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| Although many people believe that China's announcement of a ceasefire was because they had achieved their goals and wanted to avoid getting bogged down in a long-term conflict of attrition. However, the truth is that on the night of November 19, just 24 hours before the ceasefire order was issued by Zhou Enlai, India asked the US to send the US Air Force to intervene and US aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean changed course, moving towards India that same day. Perhaps, it was the "fear of the US Air Force" that was the reason why China, on the verge of victory, was forced to cease fire and make peace, allowing its army to retreat 20 km deep into China, returning part of the territory to India. Photo source: Sina. |
Kim Ngoc
(Synthetic)
