Note: This article was structured and edited with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI), based on historical data, official statements, and public records. The views expressed remain the author’s own.

Galwan Valley Incident and India’s Changing Response

The Galwan Valley clash of June 2020 was not just another border skirmish. It was a defining moment that revealed two truths: the unmatched courage of Indian soldiers, and the critical role of political will in defending sovereignty. Our jawans fought with supreme sacrifice, but this time the government’s stance ensured that China could not advance further.

Past Governments: A Record of Weakness and Silence

Since Independence, successive governments—especially under Congress—repeatedly failed to confront China’s aggression. Instead of defending territory, they often chose denial, cover-ups, or quiet compromises.

• 1962 War: Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” policy left India unprepared. The Army was deliberately kept weak in the Himalayas, resulting in a humiliating defeat when China struck.
• 1980s–1990s: Even after frequent intrusions in Arunachal and Ladakh, border infrastructure was deliberately slowed down. The excuse was that building roads and airstrips might “provoke” China.
• 2013 Depsang Standoff (Ladakh): Chinese troops intruded 19 km inside Indian territory and pitched tents in the Depsang Plains. They stayed for three weeks, blocking Indian patrols. The UPA government did not retaliate militarily but quietly negotiated. Eventually, PLA troops pulled back—but only after India dismantled its own fortifications in Chumar. This was presented as a “complete withdrawal,” but in reality it was a partial and unequal compromise. Even today, Indian patrols are blocked from several traditional points in Depsang.
• Salami Slicing: For decades, China nibbled away Indian land—1–2 sq. km every year—while governments redrew records or adjusted maps. This creeping occupation was kept out of public debate to avoid embarrassment.

In short, for years Chinese encroachments went unchecked. Soldiers stood ready, but the political leadership lacked the courage to back them.

Doklam (2017): The Prelude to a New India

The first real sign of change came in 2017 during the Doklam crisis. Chinese troops began building a road in Bhutanese territory close to the Siliguri Corridor—India’s “Chicken’s Neck,” a vital link to the Northeast.

• Instead of ignoring it, India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened militarily on behalf of Bhutan.
• Indian troops physically blocked Chinese construction, leading to a tense 73-day standoff.
• For the first time in decades, China faced an India that refused to budge. Beijing’s threats and propaganda failed, and eventually China had to halt the road construction.

Doklam was significant because it demonstrated that India was no longer willing to quietly accept China’s salami-slicing tactics. It was a preview of the strong stance that would be seen again at Galwan.

Galwan: A Different India

By 2020, China assumed India would once again yield, as in Depsang. But at Galwan, they found a very different India.

• The Modi government ordered firm military mobilization, refusing any trade-offs or silent compromises.
• India accelerated infrastructure building at an unprecedented pace: roads, tunnels, bridges, forward airstrips, and logistics chains in Ladakh and the Northeast.
• Negotiations were conducted from a position of strength, backed by deployment of troops and equipment.
• For the first time since Independence, China was forced to accept status quo instead of gaining territory.

Why This Matters

China does not respect empty diplomacy—it only respects strength. If India had once again signaled weakness, as in 2013, Beijing would have seized larger areas. Instead, Galwan showed a strong India that refused compromise.

Even External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has openly stated how earlier governments concealed Chinese encroachments. Army officers who served in Ladakh during those times confirm that troop presence was minimal, infrastructure was poor, and orders often came to “observe, not retaliate.”

Timeline of India’s Response to China

• 1962 – Defeat: India suffers a humiliating loss due to lack of preparedness and weak leadership.
• 1987 – Sumdorong Chu Standoff: India finally pushes back militarily, but no long-term policy change follows.
• 2013 – Depsang (Congress era): China intrudes 19 km; India negotiates a compromise, dismantling its own posts. Public is told China withdrew completely—truth hidden.
• 2017 – Doklam (Modi era): India blocks Chinese road construction in Bhutan; 73-day standoff ends with China backing down. First real sign of a stronger India.
• 2020 – Galwan (Modi era): China’s test attack meets firm retaliation. Status quo preserved, infrastructure ramped up, and Beijing realizes India will not bend.

Conclusion

Galwan was more than a clash. It was a turning point in India’s China policy. For decades, previous governments allowed PLA incursions to be settled quietly, often at India’s expense. The Depsang standoff of 2013 was the clearest example—where China intruded deep, bargained hard, and left with long-term advantage, while the Indian people were told everything was fine.

The difference under Modi was already visible in Doklam (2017), when India stood firm and blocked China’s advance in Bhutan. But at Galwan (2020), that new policy was tested on Indian soil itself—and for the first time, China was forced to halt.

The soldiers’ bravery has always been constant. What changed was the leadership. And that made all the difference.

Jai Hind.

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Tags: Galwan Valley, India-China Relations, Modi Government, Congress Weakness, Depsang 2013, Doklam Standoff, Indian Army, Border Infrastructure, Jaishankar