Sikkim Border Fighting:Indians and Chinese Clash
Indian and Communist Chinese troops exchanged fire at Natu La (Natu Pass) on the mountainous border between Tibet and the Indian protectorate of Sikkim September 11-14. The clashes, described as the most serious since the Indian-Chinese border war of October-November 1962, erupted after each side had accused the other of border intrusions. [See 1967 Communist China: Foreign Relations Deteriorate]Chinese forces in Tibet had opened artillery and mortar fire on Indian positions in Sikkim early September 11. Indian troops answered the fire, and heavy exchanges continued until early afternoon, when the firing tapered off to small-arms exchanges. While the Indian government did not reveal casualty figures, an authoritative Indian source said they amounted to about 10 dead and 30 wounded. Peking claimed that 25 of its troops had been killed or wounded by noon September 11.
An Indian note delivered to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi September 11 charged that Chinese troops had crossed the border at Natu La September 6, 7, 9 and 10 following a number of earlier "provocations." The note urged an immediate cease-fire "to reduce tension" and to prevent the situation from "assuming a very serious aspect." It suggested that Indian and Chinese officials meet at Natu La following the cease-fire to negotiate means of averting further clashes.
In a note presented at the Indian embassy in Peking September 11, China accused India of "criminal armed aggression." The note charged that on the morning of September 11 "over 60 Indian aggressor troops intruded into Chinese territory by crossing the China-Sikkim boundary at Natu La." It asserted that, by noon, Indian forces had killed or wounded 25 Chinese troops and had "destroyed Chinese civilian houses and temples." The note warned that India should not misjudge the situation and repeat "your mistake of 1962."
Peking radio had charged September 8 that about 60 Indian troops had intruded into Chinese territory at Natu La September 7 in order to erect a barbed wire barrier. The broadcast asserted that 2 Chinese soldiers had been killed after the Indian troops ignored Chinese warnings and sent in reinforcements "in an attempt to make a large-scale border incident." The Indians retreated back across the border after Chinese troops took "self-defense measures," the broadcast said. It added that "recently Indian troops have continuously ignored our repeated warnings and intruded into Chinese territory along the Sino-Sikkim border."
The Indian Defense Ministry accused China September 8 of "provocative acts" at Natu La. A spokesman said Chinese troops had dug a trench into Sikkimese territory and then had interfered with the construction of a barbed wire fence that Indian troops had begun erecting to prevent further border intrusions. He noted that Indian troops had resisted an attempt by about 60 Chinese troops to hinder construction of the fence September 7. He said that the Chinese had fired one shot but that no one was injured.
China lodged a protest with India September 10 over the September 7 incident. It repeated the allegation that 2 Chinese soldiers had been killed. India rejected the note September 11.
The eruption of fighting September 11 coincided with the visit to New Delhi of the chogyal (maharaja) of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, and his wife, the former Hope Cooke of the U.S. Political observers in New Delhi suggested that Peking may have ordered the attack to emphasize China's opposition to Namgyal, whom Peking labeled a usurper.
Indian and Chinese troops exchanged intermittent small-arms and artillery fire at Natu La September 12. An Indian spokesman said the firing, which continued into the afternoon had been so light that there may not have been further casualties. He said that Chinese artillery shells had landed 4 miles inside Sikkimese territory but that he knew of no civilian casualties. The spokesman added: "Recently the Chinese have been coming out and intruding across the [Sino-Sikkim] border. We had to show them where the line was and decided to construct the fence for this purpose...."
In a note delivered to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi September 12, India proposed again that the 2 sides agree to a cease-fire, to commence at 5:30 a.m. September 13. The note repeated the Indian suggestion that officials from both countries meet at the border immediately following the cease-fire to negotiate differences. It was reported September 14 that Peking radio had branded the cease-fire proposal a "gross deception."
Following a 12-hour lull, Chinese forces September 13 opened up artillery and mortar fire at Natu La for the 3d straight day. Indian troops returned the fire, and sporadic exchanges continued into the night. According to an Indian Defense Ministry spokesman, a Chinese patrol had intruded more than 100 yards inside Sikkim when the firing resumed. He said that Indian forces had suffered "only a few" casualties and that over-all losses had been "light."
Chinese shelling continued September 14, but it was so light that Indian forces were instructed to hold their fire. No casualties were reported.
The shelling ceased altogether September 15 despite Peking's silence on the Indian cease-fire proposals. Chinese troops were reported to have returned to their normal positions at Natu La.