Asia 819
India seemingly began the dispute by proclaiming a Forward Policy on November 2,
1961, regarding its northern border with China. India followed by moving troops north
to establish forts and police the area. China responded in kind. Diplomatic tensions
and minor incidents between Chinese and Indian military personnel finally devolved
into open war on October 20, 1962. China was much better equipped to fight the war
and quickly routed the Indians. A ceasefire was reached on November 21, 1962, that
was effectively an imposed settlement for China but was actually a pretty good deal
for India. China occupied Aksai Chin but allowed India to resume control of Assam.
Ten days later, on December 1, 1962, the Chinese government accused Indian
troops of participating in an “armed provocation” on the eastern sector of the bor-
der between the two countries. Accusations between the two countries continued
into 1963 as India accused China of border violations in the Spanggur Lake and the
Ladakh area while China accused an Indian military aircraft of an airspace violation,
“reconnoitering over the Yatung.” On October 14, 1963, China accused India of an
earlier border violation into its Sinkiang territory on September 22, declaring it an
“obvious intention to create tension and broaden the boundary dispute.” Finally, on
December 25, 1963, a thinning of Chinese forces along the Tibetan border began in
order to fortify the Sinkiang border with the Soviet Union. This was a signal to the
Indian government that the Tibetan border dispute was coming to a close, with the
belief that no additional Chinese incursions would occur in the manner of the 1962
movement.
Coding changes: End Date changed from November 21, 1962.
MID#1466
Started in March 1962. See the narrative in the 750 India/790 Nepal dyad dispute list.
MID#2095
Dispute Number: 2095
Date(s): April 6, 1964 to December 7, 1964
Participants: 750 India/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On April 6, 1964, Indian Prime Minister Nehru announced that prepara-
tions had been made to counter a Chinese troop buildup along the border and declared
his intention to take territory back from China that India had lost in 1962. Specifically,
the territory included Aksai Chin, a high plateau in the northern Ladakh area, and
an area in the Himalayas 1,000 miles east separating Chinese-held Tibet and India’s
North East Frontier Agency. Plans to negotiate a compromise had been attempted and
failed when Peking refused to withdraw civilian posts from the demilitarized zone in
Ladakh. Then, on January 6, 1965, the Chinese government protested against India,
accusing the military of building 27 military structures on either the border or the Chi-
nese side of the border and seizing 59 yaks belonging to various Chinese herdsmen in
the disputed area. On February 3, India replied to the Chinese accusations by alleging