The China-India border issue has always been a long-standing problem, and it has been delayed for so many years and has not been completely resolved. The Galwan Valley conflict in 2020 is a typical example of these resentment. There was a colonel named Santosh Babu on the Indian Army who led the team to cross the line and caused trouble, but he died in the fight.

This incident was quite a big deal, and both sides suffered personnel losses, but the root cause was that the border line was not clearly drawn, and their respective strategic considerations were added. India always feels that China is taking advantage, while China thinks that India is making small moves.

The Galwan Valley is a place with a high altitude and complex terrain, so it is easy to get into trouble. Before the conflict, the military chief-level talks between the two sides had already agreed to break off contact. China withdrew the facilities as agreed, but the Indian army did not abide by the rules and ran over to build an outpost. This directly ignited the fuse.

Santosh Babu, as the commander of the 16th Battalion of the Bihar regiment, led the soldiers to carry guys like steel pipes and maces, crossed the line of actual control, and tried to seize the territory. The result triggered fierce physical confrontation and caused serious casualties.

Indian side announced that 20 people were killed, including the colonel. China later confirmed that four officers and soldiers died. The entire incident exposed loopholes in border management and also made the relationship between the two countries extremely tense. Only after the incident did the communication through diplomatic channels slowly ease. But the border dispute is still there, and no one is willing to give in.

Layer accumulation of border grievances

In fact, the Sino-Indian border dispute is not a matter of one day or one night, and it began in the war in 1962. There is a border line of more than 3,000 kilometers between the two countries, and it has not been officially delineated yet. There is a historical problem like the McMahon Line in the middle. India recognizes this line, but China does not recognize it, which leads to a lot of overlapping actual control lines between the two sides.

The Galwan Valley is located in the Ladakh region and is part of Aksai Chin. China has always advocated that it is its own territory. India thinks this is the area they control. In 2019, India unilaterally changed its status in Jammu and Kashmir and classified Ladakh as a direct-government territory, which made China very dissatisfied and believed that this was changing the status quo.

In addition, India is doing infrastructure construction, building roads and airports there, and direct access to air force bases. China feels that this is a threat to its own safety. The Indian Ministry of Defense reported that the number of "crossing the border" in 2019 by Chinese troops exceeded 660 times, doubled compared with the previous one. China complains that India has built roads and bridges on the border, which has affected the balance.

The Galwan Valley is particularly sensitive because it is close to the Dalbuk-Kiyork-Dapur Highway, which is important for Indian supplies. The Chinese army patrols and on duty there, and India also sent troops to garrison. The altitude is more than 4,000 meters, the oxygen is thin, the soldiers have severe altitude sickness, and the garrison conditions are very difficult.

Some months before the conflict, there were constant small frictions between the two sides. In May, there was a fight at Pangong Lake, and the soldiers fought with their fists and stones. On June 6, the military chief talks reached a consensus to gradually break off contact, and China withdrew temporary tents and facilities. Who knew that the Indian army was not honest and sent someone over.

It was at this time that Santosh Babu led the team to take action. He was born in 1983 and came from a military family in Telangana. He entered a military school since childhood. He joined the army in 2004 and has accumulated a lot of border experience. But this time he chose to violate the agreement, lead troops across the border, and bring cold weapons to provoke trouble.

A spokesperson for the Western Theater Command said that the Indian army violated its promises and deliberately provoked. Babu led the soldiers, with steel pipes, maces, and acted at night. During the conflict, he rushed forward to command, but fell into the Galwan River during the fight.

India praised him as a hero, awarded the Mahavir Chakra Award, built a statue, and engraved a name on the National War Memorial. But from the facts, his decision directly led to the escalation of the conflict.

His own death is also a lesson, and border affairs cannot show off their courage. Indian media said he sacrificed his life for the country, but ignored the breach of contract first. China emphasizes that sovereignty belongs to China and the Indian army is illegally engaged in activities. Babu's actions not only harmed himself, but also caused his soldiers to die in vain.

Afterward, India built the "Galwan Warriors" monument, and his name and deeds were engraved on the Dalbuk-Kiyork-Dapur Highway. But this could not change the facts. He took the lead in provoking, but ended up disappearing in chaos.

The casualties and the truth of the night of the conflict

On the night of June 15, the conflict came suddenly. After the Indian army crossed the border, the Chinese side discovered that they went up to dissuade them. The Indian side did not listen and attacked first. China was forced to fight back, and both sides beat it with stones and sticks.

No guns, as border agreement prohibits fire. But the casualties are still serious. 20 Indian troops died, including Colonel Babu. Many people fall into the river, or the low temperature worsens after injury. Four people in China died and one person was seriously injured.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said that Chinese officers and soldiers were violently attacked during negotiations and defended themselves. The Indian side announced the list, mostly Bihar soldiers. On the 16th, Babu's body was found, with multiple scars. India said China lost 43 people, but China did not confirm it.

The whole process lasted for several hours and hundreds of people participated. Afterwards, the Indian army admitted that they were breach of contract. China stressed that the sovereignty of the Galwan Valley belongs to China. The conflict exposed communication issues between the two sides and attracted international attention. Russia said it would have a bilateral solution and Pakistan supported China. The United States supported India at that time.

India domestically burns Chinese flag and boycotts Chinese goods. The army built monuments to commend the deceased. Babu was awarded Mahavir Chakra and his family was compensated. The Telangana government gave Rs 5 million and gave his wife group a job and a house. On June 15, 2021, his statue was unveiled.

The incident has brought Sino-Indian relations to freezing point, and trade has been affected. India bans Chinese apps and censors investment. China maintains restraint and communicates through diplomatic conversations. Conflicts cannot be fought if anyone wants, they have to depend on the overall situation.

Five years have passed, and the impact of the Galwan conflict is still there. In February 2021, China announced the list of martyrs and commended them. The two countries gradually decoupled through 22 rounds of military commander-level meetings. Galwan has a buffer zone, no garrisons. The Indian army withdrew a few kilometers and China adjusted its patrol. But infrastructure has not stopped. India builds road bridges and China builds observation towers.

In 2022, Gogra decoupled from the hot springs. In 2023, the buffer zone will be expanded. In 2024, trade will resume and there will be many cultural exchanges. But the position is firm. In 2025, the situation was stable, but the dispute was not resolved.

Babu's ending is a warning. Take the lead in provocation, but there is no good ending. Both countries are great powers and must be resolved peacefully. Border affairs are related to sovereignty and the soldiers' orders. I hope there will be no more similar things, and everyone hopes for peace.