Keep Your Chin Up

The Sino-Indian War, also known as the China–India War or the Indo-China War, was an armed conflict between China and India that took place from October to November 1962. It was a military escalation of the Sino-Indian border dispute. The fighting was concentrated in two locations along the India-China border, the North-East Frontier Agency (NESA), and the Aksai Chin region, which were roughly 1,000 km (620 mi) apart. The conflict arose due to China's claims over the Aksai Chin and NESA, with both countries relying on different historical border agreements. India recognised the Johnson Line in the west and the McMahon Line in the east, while China did not recognise them. A series of border skirmishes arose between the two countries after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when India granted asylum to the 14th Dalai Lama. The border dispute was not resolved through bilateral talks, and China's construction of a strategic road through Aksai Chin further escalated the dispute. Chinese military action grew increasingly aggressive after India rejected proposed Chinese diplomatic settlements throughout 1960–1962, with China resuming previously banned "forward patrols" in Ladakh after 30 April 1962. In September–October 1962, tensions escalated at Dhola Post and Thagla Ridge on the eastern front, where India interpreted the McMahon Line to run along the ridge, while China rejected this claim. A series of clashes ended with Chinese forces gaining the advantage, and by 18 October, China had amassed a large number of troops for a major offensive. China abandoned all attempts towards a peaceful resolution on 20 October 1962, and launched simultaneous offensives in NESA (eastern front) and Aksai Chin (western front). The Chinese forces overran the Indian Army positions at Namka Chu and Tawang in the eastern front, and Chip Chap Valley and Pangong Lake in the western front, after a heavy fighting and forced the Indian troops to withdraw. After a three week lull period, China resumed its offensive on 14 November 1962, and captured key positions at Se La, Bomdila, and Gurung Hill on the eastern front. In the western front, the fierce battles of Rezang La and Gurung Hill resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The conflict ended when China unilaterally declared a ceasefire on 20 November 1962 and simultaneously announced its withdrawal to its pre-war position, the effective China–India border. Much of the fighting consisted of mountain warfare, entailing large-scale combat at altitudes of over 5,000 m (16,000 ft). The war took place entirely on land, without the use of naval or air assets, and neither side officially declared a war, or broke off diplomatic relations. The conflict was viewed as a major military and political setback in India. In response, India rapidly modernised and expanded its armed forces, and strengthened border defences. India reassessed its policy towards China, and the conflict permanently damaged the Sino-Indian relations. As the Sino-Sovie