Nathu La and Cho La clashes
Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Nathu La and Cho La clashes were fights between Indian and Chinese troops on the Sikkim border in September and October 1967. Nathu La and Cho La are mountain passes. Indian troops held their ground. These clashes matter because they helped restore the army's morale (confidence) after the defeat of 1962.
Example
In 1967, only five years after losing the 1962 war, Indian troops held their positions at Nathu La and Cho La against Chinese attacks. This showed that the army had recovered.
Don't confuse with
- Sino-Indian War of 1962: this was a full war on the Ladakh and NEFA fronts, which India lost. The 1967 clashes were smaller fights in Sikkim, where India held firm.