2020 China–India skirmishes Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

China–India skirmishes

Part of the Sino-Indian border dispute

A CIA map of Kashmir with red circles marking the rough locations.

Date

5 May 2020 – present

Location

Line of Actual Control (LAC),
Indo-China border

Status

Ongoing

Casus belli: Unresolved borders, border infrastructure development

Belligerents

India

China

Commanders and leaders

Ram Nath Kovind
(President of India)

Narendra Modi
(Prime Minister of India)

Rajnath Singh (Defence Minister of India)

Bipin Rawat (Chief of Defence Staff)

Manoj Mukund Naravane (Chief of the Army Staff)

Yogesh Kumar Joshi (GOC-in-C, Northern Command)

Xi Jinping
(CCP General Secretary & CMC Chairman)

Xu Qiliang
(CMC Vice Chairman)

Zhang Youxia
(CMC Vice Chairman)

Units involved

Indian Armed Forces

Indian Army
- Northern Command
Indian Air Force
Indo-Tibetan Border Police

People's Liberation Army

PLA Ground Force

Casualties and losses

20 killed

Unknown

The 2020 China–India skirmishes are part of an ongoing military standoffs between China and India. Since 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops have reportedly engaged in aggressive actions, face-offs, and other kinds of intense military action at locations along the Sino-Indian border.

Hand-to-hand combat on 16 June 2020 resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers (including an officer), Indian media sources have so far claimed that at least 43 Chinese soldiers were either dead or injured (including the death of an officer) while US intelligence sources reportedly believe that 35 Chinese soldiers are dead, including a senior officer.

Incidents have taken place near the Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Nathu La pass in Sikkim. In addition, face-offs are ongoing at locations in eastern Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which was the result of the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

According to some reports, China captured 60 km². of Indian-patrolled territory between May and June 2020. However, China has denied capturing any territory and both countries agreed to disengage by June 2020.

Between this clash, the Indian government hasn't admitted publicly to Indian citizens that Chinese PLA troops have trangressed their territory. On 6 August 2020 one such document was published in Ministry of Defense website of India claiming that the current clash is expected to be prolonged. This document was taken down by the official website.

According to S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, the ongoing military standoff is a result of Beijing not following the existing agreements.

Images for kids

A 1947 map of Republic of China. All the clashes of the 2020–21 skirmishes have taken place outside these boundaries in Indian territory.
LAC on the southern shore of the Pangong Lake; the line marked by the US Office of Geographer in blue, the line marked by OpenStreetMap in green.
Fingers 1 to 8 visible on the north bank of Pangong Tso. On the south bank is Gurung Hill with features Helmet, Black Top, Table Top, Camel's Top. Chushul, Chushul/Maldo BPM point and airstrip, Magar Hill, Rechin La, Rezang La, Rezangla War Memorial, Spanggur Gap and Spanggur Tso, visible. Chinese and Indian claim lines (updated to 1992) marked.
The site of Galwan clash at the river bend. Also seen are the LAC claimed by China June 2020 in green, and the prevailing LAC marked by the US Office of the Geographer in red
The site of the Galwan clash via NASA WorldWind
The LAC across Raki Nala; the prevailing LAC in red and the Chinese claims in green
Sonam Wangchuk appealed to boycott Chinese products.
India's prime minister visits Ladakh on 3 July 2020 where he interacted with Indian military personnel deployed at forward positions.

2020 China–India skirmishes facts for kids

Images for kids

See also