By Hong Yuan, Global Times
It has been half a century since
peace returned to the Sino-Indian border following the end of the border war in
1962. But 50 years ago, when China faced several difficulties both domestically
and internationally, the Nehru administration, encouraged by the US and the
Soviets, brought more trouble to the Sino-Indian border between 1959 and 1962.
China initially tried to avoid
military confrontation, out of respect to India’s ancient culture and sympathy
that it had suffered a similar painful past of oppression by colonial powers.
However, India’s persistent provocation eventually breached China’s
bottom-line, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was forced to join the
battle in self-defense.
Under the command of the central
military commission, Chinese soldiers fought bravely and selflessly despite
harsh conditions. They not only broke India’s offense, but also destroyed its
elite forces, such as the Seventh Brigade of the Fourth Infantry Division, and
captured Brigadier John Parashuram Dalvi.
But when the sound of China’s
artillery reached New Delhi, the PLA decisively halted its military operation
and pulled back its troops. The PLA’s performance in the war shocked Western
strategists and did its country proud. Its victory has also brought peace on
one of China’s most important borders for half a century.
War is a negotiating approach,
but not a goal. Similarly, China’s decision to fight back against India in the
1962 border war was to strike a peace with its neighbor. Therefore, while
fighting with the Indian troops, China constantly urged the Indian government
to end the conflicts and solve the border issue on the negotiating table.
China’s peaceful intentions were
further testified by its unilateral ceasefire on November 22, 1962, and its
withdrawal of troops a few days later to 20 kilometers from the line of actual
control since November 7, 1959.
China also carefully treated Indian
prisoners of war. Injured Indian soldiers were given proper medical treatment
and were sent back to their homeland. Chinese soldiers were even ordered by
their commander to polish seized Indian weapons and return them back to the
Indian army. This was unprecedented.
Then Chinese leader Mao Zedong
believed the battle with India was also a political combat, and the real target
was not Nehru but the US and the Soviets that had been plotting behind the
scenes against China.
As to Nehru, Mao wanted to wake him
up from the superpowers’ influence by giving him a heavy punch, so that he
would come to his senses and end the war. War is an extreme means of
communication between civilizations. The Sino-Indian Border War was not only a
special interaction of two ancient civilizations, but also an unfortunate
tragedy between two formerly colonized and oppressed states.
Mao understood this from both a
historical and philosophical perspective, and so gave India room to maneuver
and think during the war. By calling for a unilateral ceasefire when in an
advantageous position, pulling back troops and returning prisoners of war and
well-maintained weapons to India, Mao wanted to send a message of peace to
India, and to lay a good foundation for long-term friendship.
Some in India argued that these
peaceful gestures were made to humiliate the Indian army. Such an understanding
is narrow-minded.
The Chinese and Indian
civilizations have generally been in a friendly relationship for 2,500 years.
In ancient times, Chinese Buddhists believed that India was the paradisiacal
home of Buddha, and this positive feeling about India has never faded.
Now, the two countries have found
more similarities. They both suffered gravely from colonial invasion and
oppression in the 18th and 19th centuries, and they are both now powerful
emerging countries and key members of the BRICS. These similarities and
historical bonds indicate the border issue between China and India can be
solved, as the issue was a result of former colonial rule.
Fifty years ago, the Indian
government was blinded by selfish interests, and wanted to force the Chinese to
accept an illegal border line created by colonial powers. This was boldly
rejected. Today, both countries need to learn from their ancient friendly ties
and the lesson from the war. For the Chinese, they love peace but they will
also firmly defend their land.
The author is a deputy
secretary-general and researcher with the Center of World Politics at the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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