Integrity Score 390
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The Forward Policy and ‘Operation ONKAR’continues...
Two of India’s other policy responses became turning points in Sino-Indian relations after China’s occupation of Tibet in 1950. Till then, the Indian policy of appeasement towards China ensured friendly relations, though on what in retrospect can be seen to be China’s own
terms, or at least terms much more favourable to China. The first was
the granting of asylum to the Dalai Lama in March 1959, which infuriated the Chinese leadership. The second eventually became even more controversial: the so-called ‘Forward Policy’ of establishing small,
non-tactical military posts in order ‘to show the flag’ along the Indian
interpretation of the international border in Ladakh, and of the
McMahon Line in Arunachal Pradesh (then NEFA). The implementation of this policy in 1961-62 actually became the ‘casus
belli’ for the Chinese decision to actually go to war with India.
This new policy, personally directed by the Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, was decided at a high-level review meeting held on
November 2, 1961, has already been mentioned. The Chinese
leadership viewed it as India ‘nibbling away’ and gradually occupying
more and more Chinese territory, in the manner of silkworms nibbling
away and eating mulberry leaves. Though not officially called a ‘Forward Policy’ when initially directed, it had soon become known by this term. Begun from end-1951, the number of border check-posts
were being increased. On August 27, 1959, the Army was ordered to take-over the security of the NEFA-Tibet border, and on October 24, 1959, was made responsible for the Ladakh-Tibet border.
The downstream effects were that the Army was pushed to establish posts in
the area between the two differing interpretations of either the
‘international border’ in Ladakh or the McMahon Line in NEFA. This
led to small confrontations with Chinese troops in several of such areas.
The results of the first two clashes, both in 1959, at Longju in NEFA and at Kongka La in Ladakh, should have told India that the Chinese were dead serious about they were saying and doing, but apparently it
did not.
To be continued...