The Battle of Walong took place during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. It took place near the town of Walong in the eastern sector of the conflict, in the present-day Arunachal Pradesh region of India. Indian forces, despite being outnumbered and under equipped, resisted the Chinese advance for nearly a month.[9]
Background
The Sino-Indian War was the result of long-standing border disputes between India and China. In particular, the Chinese government refused to recognize the McMahon Line, which had been established as the boundary between British India and Tibet in 1914.[10] The area of Walong, lying close to the disputed border, became a key battleground in the northeastern sector of the war. By October 1962, Chinese forces had already begun advancing into Indian-held territory, and the Indian Army was tasked with defending key positions along the border.[11] At Walong, the responsibility for defense fell to the Indian 11th Infantry Brigade, led by Brigadier N.C. Rawlley.[citation needed]
The battle
The battle began on 21 October 1962, when Chinese 153rd Infantry Regiment launched their first attack on Indian positions.[1] The Indian defenders, consisting primarily of troops from the 4th Sikh Regiment and the 6th Kumaon Regiment, had prepared defensive positions along the ridges and valleys around Walong. The Indian forces put up a determined defense, engaging the Chinese in numerous skirmishes for nearly four weeks.[12] Using the difficult terrain to their advantage, Indian troops created bottlenecks and ambushes to slow the advancing Chinese forces.[13] Due to the difficulties encountered by the 153rd Infantry Regiment, General Staff Department of PLA ordered 130th Infantry Division to Walong direction in support of Chamdo Military sub-District on 29 October.[5] The 130th ID arrived on 8 November,[5]and they participated the offensive from 14 November.[14]By 16 November 1962, however, after suffering heavy casualties and running low on supplies, the Indian forces were ordered to withdraw.[15] The Chinese forces took control of Walong, but their advance was considered by Indians had been significantly delayed by the Indian resistance.[2]
Aftermath
The Battle of Walong is remembered by Indians for the bravery of the Indian soldiers who fought against overwhelming odds.[16] The delaying action at Walong gave the Indian Army time to regroup further south, preventing a deeper Chinese advance into Indian territory.[17] The Sino-Indian War ended shortly after the Battle of Walong, with China declaring a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November 1962.[18][19]
Researchers of PLA Academy of Military Science also noted the Indian forces encountered in Walong has a "significantly and notably higher morale and will to resist", especially compared to their fellow Indians in Kejielang River and Aksai Chin.[20]
Legacy
The Battle of Walong has become a symbol of Indian resistance during the 1962 war, despite the overall outcome of the conflict. In 2012, a memorial was built in Walong to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle.[21] Veterans and military historians continue to study the battle for its lessons in mountain warfare, especially the importance of terrain and logistics.[22]
↑ There is a discrepancy between the Chinese and Indian source with regard to the starting date of the battle. The Chinese source considered the battle didn't commence until 130th Infantry Division was able to arrive and reinforce the offensive force on 14 November.[1]
↑ arrived after 8 November, 153rd IR was placed under 130th ID command after the date
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
India 
People's Republic of China 
