Nathu La and Cho La clashes

The Nathu La and Cho La clashes, sometimes referred to as the Sino-Indian War of 1967,[9][10] consisted of a series of border clashes between India and China alongside the border of the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, then an Indian protectorate.

Nathu La and Cho La Clashes

World map from 1967 with China and India highlighted
Date11–14 September 1967 (Nathu La)
1 October 1967 (Cho La)
Location
Nathu La and Cho La, on the border between China and the Kingdom of Sikkim
Result

India claimed Indian victory[1][2][3] China claimed Chinese Victory

  • Ceasefire arranged to end Nathu La clashes
  • Chinese forces withdraw from Cho La
Belligerents
 India  China
Commanders and leaders
S. Radhakrishnan (President)
Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister)
Gen. P. P. Kumaramangalam
(Chief of the Army Staff)
Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora[4]
Maj. Gen. Sagat Singh[4]
Brig. Rai Singh Yadav
(2 Grenadiers)		 Mao Zedong
(Chairman of the CPC/CMC)
Maj. Gen. Wang Chenghan
(Deputy commander of the Tibet Military District)
Maj. Gen. Yu Zhiquan
Units involved
 Indian Army  People's Liberation Army
Strength
Part of the 112nd Infantry Brigade 4th, 6th Rifle, 2nd Machine Gun and 2nd Artillery Companies of the 31st Infantry Regiment, 75th Artillery Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment of the 308th Artillery Brigade.[5]
Casualties and losses
Indian claims: 88 killed, 163 wounded.[6][7]
Chinese claims: 101 killed
(65 Nathu La, 36 Cho La)[8]		 Chinese claims:
32 killed (Nathu La), unknown (Cho La).[8]
Indian claims: 340 killed, 450 wounded.[7]

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.

According to independent sources, India achieved "decisive tactical advantage" and managed to hold its own against Chinese forces.[1][2][3] Many PLA fortifications at Nathu La were said to be destroyed,[8] where the Indian troops drove back the attacking Chinese forces.[1] The competition to control the disputed borderland in Chumbi valley is seen as a major cause for heightening the tensions in these incidents. Observers have commented that these clashes indicated the decline of 'claim strength' in China's decision to initiate the use of force against India, and stated that India was greatly pleased with the combat performance of its forces in the Nathu La clashes, seeing it as a sign of striking improvement since its defeat in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Background

Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, tensions continued to run high along the Himalayan border shared by India and China. Influenced by its previous defeat, the Indian Army raised a number of new units, nearly doubling their deployed forces along the disputed region. As a part of this military expansion, seven mountain divisions were raised to defend India's northern borders against any Chinese attack. Most of these divisions were not based near the border, save for the Chumbi Valley, where both Indian and Chinese troops are stationed on both sides at close range. Particularly at the Nathu La pass in the valley, alongside the Sikkim-Tibet border, the deployed Chinese and Indian forces are stationed about 20–30 meters apart, which is the closest of anywhere on the 4000 km Sino-Indian border. The border here is said to have remained "un-demarcated". Chinese held the northern shoulder of the pass, while the Indian Army held the southern shoulder. Two major parts of the pass, south and north of Nathu La, namely Sebu La and Camel’s back, were held by the Indians. From 1963, small-scale clashes in the region were frequently reported in the press.[4][8][11] On 16 September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, China issued an ultimatum to India to vacate the Nathu La pass. However, GOC 17 mountain division's Major General, Sagat Singh, refused to do so, arguing that Nathu La was on the watershed which comprised the natural boundary.[12][13]

Starting from 13 August 1967, Chinese troops started digging trenches in Nathu La on the Sikkimese side. Indian troops observed that some of the trenches were "clearly" to the Sikkemese side of the border, and pointed it out to the local Chinese commander, who was asked to withdraw from there. Yet, in one instance, the Chinese filled the trenches again and left after adding 8 more loudspeakers to the existing 21. Indian troops decided to stretch a barbed wire along the ridges of Nathu La in order to indicate the boundary.[4][11][14]

Accordingly, from 18 August, wires were stretched along the border, which was resented by the Chinese troops. After two days, armed with weaponry, Chinese troops took positions against the Indian soldiers who were engaged in laying the wire but made no firing.[4][8][11]

Again on 7 September, when the Indian troops started stretching another barbed wire along the southern side of Nathu La, the local Chinese commanders along with the troops rushed to the spot and issued a "serious warning" to an Indian commander to stop the work, after which a scuffle took place in which some soldiers from both sides were injured. Chinese troops were agitated by the injuries to their two soldiers.[4][8][11]

In order to settle the situation, the Indian military hierarchy decided to lay another wire in the centre of the pass from Nathu La to Sebu La to indicate their perceived border, on 11 September 1967.[4]

Clashes at Nathu La

Accordingly, in the morning of 11 September 1967, the engineers and jawans (soldiers) of Indian Army started laying the stretch of fencing from Nathu La to Sebu La along the perceived border. According to an Indian account, immediately a Chinese Political Commissar, with a section of Infantry, came to the centre of the pass where an Indian Lieutenant Colonel was standing with his commando platoon. The Chinese Commissar asked the Indian Colonel to stop laying the wire. Indian soldiers refused to halt, saying they were given orders. An argument started which soon turned into a scuffle. After that, the Chinese went back to their bunkers and the Indians resumed laying the wire.[4][8][14]

Within a few minutes of this, a whistle was blown from the Chinese side followed by medium machine gun firing against Indian troops from north shoulder. Due to the lack of cover in the pass, the Indian troops initially suffered heavy casualties. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese also opened artillery against the Indians. A little later, Indian troops opened artillery from their side. The clashes lasted through the day and night, for the next three days, with use of artillery, mortars and machine guns, during which the Indian troops "beat back" the Chinese forces. Five days after the clashes had started, an "uneasy" ceasefire was arranged. Due to the advantageous position Indian troops had because of their occupation of high grounds at the pass in Sebu La and Camel's back, they were able to destroy many Chinese bunkers at Nathu La.[1][4][8][14][15]

The corpses of fallen soldiers were exchanged on 15 and 16 September.[4][15]

The Indian and Western perspectives attributed the initiation of these clashes to the Chinese side.[16] The Chinese, however, blamed the Indian troops for provoking the clashes, alleging that the firing had started from the Indian side.[15]

Clashes at Cho La

On 1 October 1967, another clash between India and China took place at Cho La, another pass on the Sikkim–Tibet border, a few kilometers north of Nathu La.[4][8]

Scholar van Eekelen states that the duel was initiated by the Chinese troops after a scuffle between the two, when the Chinese troops infiltrated into the Sikkim-side of the border, claimed the pass and questioned the Indian occupation of it.[14][17]

China, however, asserted that the provocation had come from the Indian side. According to the Chinese version, Indian troops had infiltrated into the Chinese territory across the pass, made provocations against the stationed Chinese troops, and opened fire on them.[17]

The military duel lasted one day,[18] during which the Chinese were driven away, and it boosted Indian morale.[14] According to Indian Maj. Gen. Sheru Thapliyal, the Chinese were forced to withdraw nearly three kilometers in Cho La during this clash.[4]

Casualties

According to Chinese claims, the number of soldiers killed was 32 on the Chinese side and 65 on the Indian side in Nathu La incident; and 36 Indian soldiers and an 'unknown' number of Chinese were killed in the Cho La incident.[8]

On the other hand, the Indian Defence Ministry reported: 88 killed and 163 wounded on the Indian side, while 340 killed and 450 wounded on the Chinese side, during the two incidents.[6][7]

Analysis

According to scholar Taylor Fravel, the competition to control the disputed land in Chumbi valley had played a key role in escalating tensions in these events. Fravel has argued that these incidents demonstrate the effects of China's "regime insecurity" on the use of force. He states that three factors in these clashes emphasized the role of "declining claim strength in China's decision to initiate the use of force" against India. First is the Indian Army's expansion of size after the 1962 war leading to the strengthening of its borders with China. Second is the apparent Indian aggression in asserting its claims near the border. Third is the Chinese perceptions of Indian actions, for which Fravel says that the most unstable period of Cultural Revolution in China, which coincided with these incidents, was a possible contributing factor. Fravel remarks that the Chinese leaders possibly magnified the potential threat from India due to the border-tensions and the perceived pressure from India to strengthen its claims across the border, and decided that a severe attack was needed.[8]

Fravel has stated that the initial Chinese attack was perhaps not authorized by the Central Military Commission (China). He also noted that after the attack was launched at Nathu La by the Chinese, the then Chinese Premier, Zhou Enlai, instructed Chinese forces to return fire only when fired upon.[8]

According to scholar John Garver, due to the Nathu La incident, Indian concerns were roused about China's intentions regarding Sikkim. Garver also remarks that India was "quite pleased with the combat performance of its forces in the Nathu La clashes, seeing it as signalling dramatic improvement since 1962 war."[16]

Aftermath

The Sino-Indian border remained peaceful after these incidents till 2020 China–India skirmishes.[4]

Sikkim became an Indian state in 1975, after a referendum which resulted in overwhelming support for the removal of monarchy and a full merger with India.[19] The Indian annexation of Sikkim was not recognised by China during the time.[19][20] In 2003, China indirectly recognised Sikkim as an Indian state, on agreement that India accept that the Tibet Autonomous Region as a part of China, though India had already done so back in 1953.[19][21][22][23] This mutual agreement led to a thaw in Sino-Indian relations.[24][25]

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in 2005 that "Sikkim is no longer the problem between China and India."[19]

Military Awards

Maha Vir Chakra
NameUnitPlace of actionCitation
Brigadier Rai Singh Yadav2nd GrenadiersNathu La, Sikkim, India[26]
Lieutenant Colonel Mahatam Singh10 JAK RiflesCho La, Sikkim, India[27]
Major Harbhajan Singh (P)18 RajputNathu La, Sikkim, India[28]

Vir Chakra
NameUnitPlace of actionCitation
Captain Prithi Singh Dagar (P)2nd GrenadiersNathu La, Sikkim, India[29]
Havaldar Lakhmi Chand (P)2nd GrenadiersNathu La, Sikkim, India[30]
Sepoy Gokal Singh18 RajputNathu La, Sikkim, India[31]

The Nathu La clashes between the Indian Army and Chinese Army are depicted in the 2018 Indian Hindi-language film Paltan (film), starring Jackie Shroff as Maj. General Sagat Singh, Arjun Rampal as Lt. Col. Rai Singh Yadav, Harshvardhan Rane as Maj. Harbhajan Singh, Gurmeet Choudhary as Capt. Prithvi Singh Dagar and Abhilash Chaudhary as Hav. Lakhmi Chand.[32]

See also

References
  1. Brahma Chellaney (2006). Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India, and Japan. HarperCollins. p. 195. ISBN 9788172236502. Indeed, Beijing's acknowledgement of Indian control over Sikkim seems limited to the purpose of facilitating trade through the vertiginous Nathu-la Pass, the scene of bloody artillery duels in September 1967 when Indian troops beat back attacking Chinese forces.
  2. Van Praagh, David (2003). Greater Game: India's Race with Destiny and China. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 301. ISBN 9780773525887. (Indian) jawans trained and equipped for high-altitude combat used US provided artillery, deployed on higher ground than that of their adversaries, to decisive tactical advantage at Nathu La and Cho La near the Sikkim-Tibet border.
  3. Hoontrakul, Ponesak (2014), "Asia's Evolving Economic Dynamism and Political Pressures", in P. Hoontrakul; C. Balding; R. Marwah (eds.), The Global Rise of Asian Transformation: Trends and Developments in Economic Growth Dynamics, Palgrave Macmillan US, p. 37, ISBN 978-1-137-41236-2, Cho La incident (1967) - Victorious: India / Defeated : China
  4. Sheru Thapliyal (Retired Major General of the Indian Army, who commanded the Nathu La Brigade.) (2009) [first published in the FORCE Magazine, 2004]. "The Nathu La skirmish: when Chinese were given a bloody nose". www.claws.in. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
  5. 中国人民解放军步兵第十一师军战史 [Battle Records of the 11th Division of the People's Liberation Army, Part II], pp. 337–338
    Extract on a personal web page at ishare.iask.sina.com.cn
  6. People, India Parliament House of the; Sabha, India Parliament Lok (1967). Lok Sabha Debates. Lok Sabha Secretariat. pp. 51–.
  7. Mishra, Keshav (2001), "The period of stalemate (1963–1975)" (PDF), Changing contours of India–China relationship, 1963–1991: A study in bilateral, regional and international perspectives, Jawaharlal Nehru University/Shodhganga, 55, hdl:10603/30868
  8. Fravel, M. Taylor (2008). Strong Borders, Secure Nation: Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes. Princeton University Press. pp. 197–199. ISBN 978-1400828876.
  9. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/a-history-of-sino-indian-feuds-times-when-china-had-to-back-down/articleshow/76357150.cms
  10. https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/books/review-watershed-1967-indias-forgotten-victory-over-china-by-probal-dasgupta/cid/1790853
  11. Bajpai, G. S. (1999). China's Shadow Over Sikkim: The Politics of Intimidation. Lancer Publishers. pp. 184–186. ISBN 9781897829523.
  12. van Eekelen, Willem (2015). Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China: A New Look at Asian Relationships. BRILL. pp. 235–236. ISBN 9789004304314.
  13. Singh, V. K. (2005). Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers. SAGE Publications. pp. 308, 309. ISBN 9780761933229.
  14. van Eekelen, Willem (2015). Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China: A New Look at Asian Relationships. The Netherlands: BRILL. pp. 239–. ISBN 9789004304314.
  15. Bajpai, G. S. (1999). China's Shadow Over Sikkim: The Politics of Intimidation. Lancer Publishers. pp. 186–191. ISBN 9781897829523.
  16. Garver, John W. (2011). Protracted Contest: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century. University of Washington Press. p. 171. ISBN 9780295801209.
  17. Bajpai, G. S. (1999). China's Shadow Over Sikkim: The Politics of Intimidation. Lancer Publishers. pp. 193, 194. ISBN 9781897829523.
  18. Elleman, Bruce; Kotkin, Stephen; Schofield, Clive (2015). Beijing's Power and China's Borders: Twenty Neighbors in Asia. M.E. Sharpe. p. 317. ISBN 9780765627667.
  19. Scott, David (2011). Handbook of India's International Relations. Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 9781136811319.
  20. Breslin, Shaun (2012). A Handbook of China's International Relations. Routledge. p. 433. ISBN 9781136938450.
  21. Aspects of India's International Relations, 1700 to 2000: South Asia and the World. Pearson. 2007. p. 87. ISBN 9788131708347.
  22. van Eekelen, Willem (2015). Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China: A New Look at Asian Relationships. The Netherlands: BRILL. pp. 36–. ISBN 9789004304314.
  23. Singh, Iqbal (1998). Between Two Fires: Towards an Understanding of Jawaharlal Nehru's Foreign Policy. Orient Blackswan. pp. 243–. ISBN 9788125015857.
  24. "India and China agree over Tibet". BBC News.
  25. Baruah, Amit (12 April 2005). "China backs India's bid for U.N. Council seat". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  26. "Lt Col Rai Singh – Maha Vir Chakra". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  27. "Lt Col Mahatam Singh – Maha Vir Chakra". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  28. "Major Harbhajan Singh MVC". HonourPoint.
  29. "Captain Prithi Singh Dagar – Maha Vir Chakra". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  30. "Havaldar Lakhmi Chand – Maha Vir Chakra". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  31. "Sepoy Gokal Singh MVC". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  32. "Paltan". IMDB.

Further reading
  • Nathu La; 1967 - The Real Story; Veekay (Indian Army Corps), using the diary of Second Lieutenant N.C Gupta; cited by Willem van Eekelen in his book, Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China: A New Look at Asian Relationships (p 238).

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