Line of Actual Control remains sore point between India and China

Eyeball-To-Eyeball: The Sino-Indian border remained tense in the 1960sThe Indian Army's defeat by the Chinese in the border war of 1962 was a national humiliation, never mind the culpability of Nehru and his advisers in mishandling the situation. The nation reacted with an unprecedented surge of patriotism.The restructuring and expansion of the armed forces fortuitously helped in blocking Pakistan's surprise attack in 1965. In 1965 and 1966, there were clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in the Nathu La area of Sikkim, resulting in scores of casualties on both sides.But then peace descended for another 15 years or so. However, the border between the two countries defined by an undelineated Line of Actual Control (LAC), resulting in claims and counter-claims.In the early '80s, the decision to defend instead of abandoning Tawang in the North-east in some future conflict touched off a new crisis.The Indians decided to actively patrol the LAC and the Chinese occupation of the Sumdorong Chu pasturage, north of Tawang, led to a media-boosted scare and official protests in 1986. The matter was complicated by the passage of a bill creating Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that China claims in its entirety. Simultaneously, there was another development. As part of exercise chequerboard, the army re-occupied the Hathung La ridge, across the Namka Chu rivulet, a quarter century after they had been pushed off it.Had it been a gradual move, the Chinese may not have been alarmed, but army chief K. Sundarji staged the event with a characteristic touch of military panache, airlifting an entire brigade to nearby Zimithang. The Chinese panicked and when they moved their forces forward, there were eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations along several parts of the LAC.A torrent of tough talk from Beijing unnerved the mandarins in New Delhi, but the army insisted on standing firm. The result paradoxically was a thaw..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Foreign Minister N.D. Tiwari visited Beijing in May 1987 to assure Chinese leaders that Indian intentions were benign. Both sides decided to take up talks with renewed urgency and the following year, Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing, returning Zhou Enlai's '60s visit. Five years later, the two sides signed the agreement on maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC. Ten meetings of a joint working group and five of an expert group to determine where the LAC lies have taken place but the pace of progress has been tardy to say the least. Hence, Fernandes' call for "decisive" negotiations to resolve outstanding disputes.Published By: AtMigration Published On: May 18, 1998--- ENDS ---

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Line of Actual Control remains sore point between India and China

The Indian Army's defeat by the Chinese in the border war of 1962 was a national humiliation, never mind the culpability of Nehru and his advisers in mishandling the situation. The nation reacted with an unprecedented surge of patriotism.

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