Galwan: A present, that changed a 5 decade past!

Galwan!

Why is this name doing the rounds in the world media and what happened in this Valley during the cold-blooded nights of 15 and 16 June?

I bring you reports, maps, facts and all that happened and is happening in this valley.

First let me give you some insight regarding this place. Galwan is river flowing in the Union Territory of Ladakh, India. This river is named after Ghulam Radool Galwan, a Ladakhi explorer of Kashmiri descent, who first explored the course of the river. In 1899, he was part of a British expedition team that was exploring the areas to north of Chang Chenmo Valley, when he ran into previously unknown valley. Knowing this, I must tell you the Chinese don't have a name of their own to this place, which is very peculiar, knowing the fact their way of work!

The Location of Galwan and LAC

I'll not divert you to the whole Ladakh skirmish, instead I'll focus on this. So, basically after giving the "Wuhan Virus" China resorted to conflict politics, where it started targeting it's neighbours, from Japan to Indonesia to India. So, India and Indians shouldn't count themselves as some exception, It's the Chinese Drive thats going on. So, during the MMS govt. India decided to ramp up border infra, but faced backlash from people within, later in 2014 the NaMo govt. decided to ramp up this infra. This resulted in the construction of the very strategic Dabruk-Shyok-DBO road (all weather road). The Chinese were okay with this, as this ran almost 8 km away from the LAC. But, later in 2018, India strated to construct feeder roads to reach the Border, the Chinese saw this as a threat.

The Bridge, the Chinese are so frustrated about.

Galwan became a flash-point when media reports came as India is finishing up it's work on Bridge in the Valley and PLA started objecting it. Reports suggest that "the Chinese pitched 70-80 tents and then reinforced the area with troops, heavy vehicles, guns for fire support, and monitoring equipment. These all didn't happen very far from the India side." On 24 May, reports suggested that the PLA invaded India at 3 different place: Hot Springs, Patrol Point 14 (The Skirmish Point), and Patrol Point 15. At each of these places, around 800-1000 PLA soldiers reportedly crossed the border and settled at place about 2-3 Km from the border, while the Indian troops stationed them 300-500 m from the Chinese. The standoff continued but with several levels of talks taking place, both at military and diplomatic level, the situation seemed to ease down, and during the 6th June talks, both sides agreed to move back to their original positions. But, "Back-stabbing" is in the Chinese genes.

So, what actually happened?

The point of conflict (PP 14)

After Lt Gen-level talks 10 days ago, disengagement had begun. Last week, a camp that had been removed by Chinese was brought back, seeing this on 15th June, CO (Col. Santosh Babu of 16 Bihar Regiment) & group of men (unarmed) went to the camp to tell Chinese to follow disengagement plan, which the Chinese saw with hostility. The team quickly came under attack with stones, sticks wrapped with cutting wires and sticks studded with nails. In this fight, the CO got grievously hurt, and was removed immediately. Remaining soldiers were surrounded and were held by the Chinese. By sunset, CO succumbed to injuries, while his unarmed men were still held by the Chinese. Later, Indian Major & more men go towards the camp, armed with their own melee weapons. They too come under attack, but fought back hard. The fight turned ugly and casualties were inflicted among Indian captive men and several on Chinese side too. More Chinese troops arrive from the nearby camp, surround the 1st camp where the fight was still on. Fighting spreads, moves up the ridge over fast-flowing Galwan River, during this fight several soldiers (from both side) fall from the steep cliff onto the rocks and into the river. This created a 'Landslide' like situation. Mind you, the fight went on for nearly 6 hours. Meanwhile, Chinese Brigadier arrives on site, orders troops back, and to pick up casualties. Indian Army men retrieve bodies downstream in the darkness (Herculean task in that cold). By morning several of the Indian men succumbed, either due to grievous injuries of Hypothermia. This fight left 20 Indian Soldiers dead and as per media reports, 35 Chinese soldiers too.

But, the situation remains volatile, tense as priority is to calm troops as CO has been killed in action on a mission to simply talk. The mutilated bodies of the jawans has left the force outrageous. Although, disengagement from this precise point has happened, but Chinese are still present in the Valley.

What now and Why?

First, I come to point of "Why". Let me put out some causes of this bloodshed:

Military experts have pointed out that the situation in Eastern Ladakh is unlike any previous stand-offs witnessed in the region between the two countries. The current stand-off is spread over a big area and involves a large troop build-up. This clearly indicated that it's not the work of some tactical commander of the PLA or that of the Western Theatre Command Chief, this comes directly from the top.
This was a response from China to the development of Indian Infrastructure in the recent years. Its was a show of strength of China amidst the Corona Virus Pandemic which has damaged the Chinese economy and international reputation.
China is also raising border issues due to internal problems within China, including question of Xi's regime for the first time and also the international pressure exerted on China over Corona Virus Outbreak.
Current border tensions is also due to India's decision to abrogate Article 370 and change the status of J&K in 2019. China is also irked by the Parliamentary speech of HM Amit Shah, where he declared Aksai Chin to be brought back under Indian Union.
And, at last the "Chinese eutopia" of becoming the World Power and reclaiming all it's land that it thinks to be a part of China in the past.

Now, comes the question of "What now":

Is the Situation Serious?

Yes, undoubtedly so.

This is the first time after 1975 that soldiers have died in India-China clashes. But, all these incidents are prior to the two countries signing, starting form 1993, various agreements for maintaining peace and tranquility on the border.

Moreover, at least 20 soldiers including a CO lost their lives on a single day in Galwan. Adding to this, is the large number of soldiers killed without even firing a round, it means the deaths were far more brutal.

Has the situation now been defused at the site of the clash?

A meeting at the level of Major Generals of both armies took place at PP14 in the area on Tuesday and more are on the way. But, given the premise of Chinese talks, they seldom stand firm on their promises. Given this back-stabbing, tensions are really all across the border, especially in the Ladakh sector. There were hopes of an early disengagement after the meeting at Corps Commander level on June 6. But after this incident, and the comments made by Chinese foreign ministry and CCP media mouthpieces will only escalate the situation.