India-China war ended this day in 1962, 10 things about Beijing’s ‘betrayal’ of New Delhi’s trust

It was on this day (November 21) in 1962 that the India-China war came to an end, with Beijing declaring ceasefire unilaterally — in the same fashion as it launched the military aggression unilaterally. The Chinese aggression has had a deep impact on India-China relationship since then.

The war began against the backdrop of mutual trust between two socialist-oriented governments. India and China had signed a five-point Panchsheel agreement for peaceful co-existence.

Those were the years of an intense Cold War, with the US and the erstwhile USSR leading one bloc each following the Second World War. India became an advocate of non-aligned policies. There was hope that China, as a fellow Asian power, would share these ideals.

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However, China had a different approach towards Indian territories — it gradually captured, consolidating through the 1962 war, and claimed the entire Arunachal Pradesh, describing it as South Tibet. China’s aggression on October 20, 1962, was described in India as the “betrayal” of New Delhi’s trust.

Even today, the memory of the 1962 war lingers, influencing India’s political and military strategies. It serves as a cautionary tale about the costs of misplaced trust and the importance of vigilance in international relations.

Here are 10 key things about Beijing’s betrayal of New Delhi’s trust:

• China unexpectedly attacked India’s northeastern border and Ladakh on 20 October,1962, which popularly came to be known as Sino-India war of 1962. China’s betrayal caught India unprepared. The attack was a part of China’s plan to conquer more land. The war lasted for about a month and ended on November 21.

• The Panchsheel Agreement was based on mutual respect and peace, but China broke these promises by invading and ignoring peaceful conflict resolution. It chose aggression to claim areas like Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, showing disregard for past commitments.

• Before the war, China presented itself as a peaceful partner, signing the Panchsheel Agreement with India in 1954. However, at the same time, it secretly built infrastructure in disputed areas like Aksai Chin, including a key road linking Tibet to Xinjiang. This betrayal shattered India’s trust in Beijing.

• At that time, India was known for promoting peace and staying neutral, earning respect globally. In contrast, China’s aggressive actions made it look like an expansionist power, isolating itself. Meanwhile, India gained support from countries like the United States and the Soviet Union, who saw China’s actions as a betrayal.

• India had given refuge to the Dalai Lama after the 1959 uprising in Tibet. This act was seen by China as a threat, but India expected diplomatic negotiations, not military retaliation.

• After the conflict, China spread propaganda, claiming it was the victim of Indian aggression. It said India triggered the war by rejecting China’s control over Aksai Chin and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, shaping a false view of the conflict worldwide.

• India repeatedly called for peace talks during the conflict, but China refused to engage. Instead, it focused on achieving military gains, ignoring its earlier promises of peaceful coexistence.

• India’s foreign policy was based on non-alignment, staying out of the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Jawaharlal Nehru hoped China would support this vision of peace. However, China’s aggression forced India to rethink its strategy and seek stronger defence partnerships.

• The 1962 war deeply affected India’s security mindset. The loss, humiliation, and betrayal led India to rethink its defence policies. This conflict also created lasting tensions between India and China, with border issues continuing. As a result, India has focused more on strengthening its military and forming strategic alliances.

• The clash in Galwan Valley, 2020, where soldiers on both sides lost their lives, broke trust between the two nations. Despite talks, China’s actions along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) have increased tensions.