Tibet border

China and India disputed their mutual border. The terrain was mountainous and often difficult to defend. In 1962, battles broke out between the two countries. On October 20th China launched a full scale attack on Indian positions. The Chinese routed the Indians, and India asked for U.S. support. Two days later the Chinese announced that they were implementing a cease-fire and withdrawing..

A long-standing border dispute between China and India, primarily revolving around the Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh regions, led to increasing tensions between these two Asian giants during the 20th century. The terrain involved was rugged and mountainous, posing significant challenges to effective defense.

The dispute escalated to an open conflict, known as the Sino-Indian War, in 1962. Relations had been strained over disagreements concerning the demarcation of their shared border, with both countries claiming ownership over vast tracts of Himalayan territory. The McMahon Line, a border proposed by the British during their colonial rule, was accepted by India but rejected by China, further fueling the tensions.

The conflict came to a head on October 20, 1962, when China launched a major offensive against Indian positions along both disputed border areas. With superior preparation and high-altitude warfare experience, the Chinese forces were able to overpower the ill-prepared and ill-equipped Indian army, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing them to retreat. This period of the conflict is often referred to as the Chinese invasion of India.

In the face of this crisis, India reached out to the United States for military assistance, marking a significant shift in the nation's non-aligned foreign policy stance during the Cold War.

Interestingly, on October 24, 1962, merely four days after their large-scale offensive, the Chinese government declared a unilateral ceasefire and announced their intention to withdraw their troops back to positions behind the Line of Actual Control, which is China's perceived border with India. This decision took many by surprise and led to various speculations about China's strategic motives.

While this 1962 war lasted only a month, it had long-term repercussions for Sino-Indian relations. The border dispute remains unresolved to this day, causing occasional flare-ups of tensions between the two countries.