How Galwan changed India's approach to China
China's step-by-step strategy and surprise tactics call for sharper intelligence, terrain-ready equipment, and stronger border infrastructure to deter future face-offs
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 "S L Narasimhan")
 "Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel celebrate Republic Day in Ladakh in subzero temperatures in 2021 (Photo: ITBP)")
Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel celebrate Republic Day in Ladakh in subzero temperatures in 2021 (Photo: ITBP)
India and China signed four agreements between 1988 and 2013. These were designed to ensure that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains peaceful. Further, several standard operating procedures (SOPs) were agreed upon by both sides to prevent faceoffs between patrols from escalating. Since 2013, major incidents on the LAC were building up towards the Galwan incident — only that the tea leaves were to be read correctly. Faceoffs were taking place in Depsang (2013), Chumar (2014), and Doklam (2017) that preceded the Galwan clash. Of these, the former two are in Eastern Ladakh, and the third is on
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S L Narasimhan
S L Narasimhan is a retired Lieutenant General, and an adjunct distinguished fellow at Gateway House, Mumbai
 "S L Narasimhan")
First Published: Sep 02 2025 | 2:53 PM IST
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