2020 China–India skirmishes

People's Republic of China is a territorially revisionist power having land and water disputes with Bhutan, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Nepal and India.[44][45]

The border between China and India is disputed at 20 different locations. Since the 1980s, there have been over 20 rounds of talks between the two countries related to these border issues.[46] A study by the Observer Research Foundation points out that only 1 to 2 percent of border incidents between 2010 and 2014 received any form of media coverage.[46][47] In 2019, India reported over 660 LAC violations and 108 aerial violations by the People's Liberation Army which were significantly higher than the number of incidents in 2018.[48] There is "no publicly available map depicting the Indian version of the LAC," and the Survey of India maps are the only evidence of the official border for India.[49] The Chinese version of the LAC mostly consists of claims in the Ladakh region, but China also claims Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India.[49] In 2013, Indian diplomat Shyam Saran claimed that India had lost 640 km² (247 sq mi) due to "area denial" by Chinese patrolling,[50] but he later retracted his claims about any loss of territory to Chinese incursion.[51] Despite the disputes, skirmishes, and standoffs, no incidence of gunshots being fired has been reported between the two countries along the border for over 50 years.[52]

During Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping's[6] visit to New Delhi in September 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the boundary question and urged his counterpart for a solution. Modi also argued that the clarification of the border issues would help the two countries to "realise the potential of our relations".[53] However, in 2017, China and India got into a major standoff in Doklam that lasted 73 days.[54][55] China has since increased its military presence in the Tibetan Plateau, bringing in Type 15 tanks, Harbin Z-20 helicopters, CAIG Wing Loong II UAVs and PCL-181 self-propelled howitzers.[lower-alpha 3][56] China also stationed new Shenyang J-16s and J-11s fighter jets at the Ngari Gunsa Airport, which is 200 kilometres (124 mi) from Pangong Tso, Ladakh.[56][30] China has also been increasing its footprint with India's neighbours – Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan; so from India having a monopoly in the region, China is now posing a direct challenge to New Delhi's influence in South Asia.[57]

The disputed territory of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir is administered by Pakistan (green), India (blue) and China (yellow).

Multiple reasons have been cited as the trigger for these skirmishes. One reason stated by American observers is Chinese land grabbing involving encroaching upon small parts of enemy territory over a large period, a tactic also referred to as salami slicing.[32][33] In mid-June 2020, Bharatiya Janata Party councillor Urgain Chodon from Nyoma, Ladakh, stated that successive Indian governments (including the current Narendra Modi government) have neglected the border areas for decades and turned a 'blind-eye' to Chinese land grabbing in the region. According to her India has failed miserably in the protection of its borders and even this year all along the LAC India has lost land, with her family having lost grazing land to the Chinese in Koyal.[58][59] Other local Ladakhi leaders have also acknowledged similar incursions by the Chinese in the region.[60]

On land, for the sake of grabbing territory, the PLA appears to have instigated the most violent clash between China and India since those nations went to war in 1962

— Mitch McConnell, 18 June 2020, in the aftermath of the Galwan skirmish on 15 June[33]

MIT professor, Taylor Fravel, said that the skirmishes were a response from China to the development of Indian infrastructure in Ladakh, particularly the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road. He added that it was a show of strength for China amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which had damaged the Chinese economy and its international reputation.[61] Lobsang Sangay, President of the Tibetan-government-in-exile, stated that China is raising border issues due to internal problems within China and the international pressure being exerted on China over COVID-19.[62][63] Jayadeva Ranade, President of the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy and former National Security Advisory Board member, posited that China's current aggression in the region is to protects it's assets and future plans in Ladakh and adjoining regions such as the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor; as such Chinese troops are not going to withdraw.[64]

Wang Shida of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations linked the current border tensions to India's decision to abrogate Article 370 and change the status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.[34] Although, Pravin Sawhney agreed with Wang, he postulated that a parliamentary speech by Amit Shah also could have irked the Chinese. In the speech, Shah had declared that Aksai Chin was part of the Ladakh Union Territory.[65] Furthermore, the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 prompted multiple senior Bharatiya Janta Party ministers, most recently in May 2020, to claim that all that now remained was for India to regain Gilgit-Baltistan.[66] Indian diplomat Gautam Bambawale also stated that New Delhi's moves in August 2019 related to Jammu and Kashmir irked Beijing.[66] In 2014, Rajnath Singh, the then Home Minister of India, the Defence Minister during the 2020 skirmishes, had said that 'China has illegally occupied Aksai Chin in Ladakh'.[67]

India's former ambassador to China, Ashok Kantha said that these skirmishes were part of a growing Chinese assertiveness in both the Indo-China border and the South China sea.[61] Indian diplomat Phunchok Stobdan pointed to the occurrence of a larger strategic shift and that India should be alert.[68] Retired Indian Army Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain said that the skirmishes were post–COVID strategic messages from China to its neighbours which would make India prioritize the Himalayan sector over the maritime Indian Ocean region, a more vulnerable area for the Chinese.[69] Raja Mohan, Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, writes that the growing power imbalance between China and India is the main cause of the dispute, with everything else such as the location of the dispute or international ties of India, being mere detail.[70] These skirmishes have also been linked with the Chinese strategy of Five Fingers of Tibet by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (leader of the principal opposition party Indian National Congress in the Lok Sabha),[71] Seshadri Chari (former head of the foreign affairs cell of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party),[72] and Lobsang Sangay (leader of the Central Tibetan Administration).[73]

There have been simultaneous efforts by China to occupy land at multiple locations along the Sino-Indian border. Locations where the standoffs and skirmishes have taken place are Pangong Tso, Hot Springs, Galwan Valley and Depsang in Ladakh; and in Sikkim as well.[74]

Pangong Tso

Part of Pangong Tso/Bangong Co with the Chinese (pink) and Indian (red) claims. The area in the middle is disputed.[lower-alpha 4] Khurnak Fort and Sirijap campground are also visible.

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Northern shore of the Pangong Lake[75] with "fingers" – mountain spurs jutting into the lake[76]

On 5 May, the first standoff began as a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers at a beach of Pangong Tso, a lake shared between India and Tibet, China, with the Line of Actual Control (LAC) passing through it.[77][78] A video showed soldiers from both nations engaging in fistfights and stone-pelting along the LAC.[79] On 10/11 May, another clash took place.[80] A number of soldiers on both sides had sustained injuries. Indian media reported that around 72 Indian soldiers were injured in the confrontation at Pangong Tso, and some had to be flown to hospitals in Leh, Chandi Mandir and Delhi.[81] According to The Daily Telegraph and other sources, China captured 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi) of Indian-patrolled territory between May and June 2020.[82][83][84]

After the clash, several Chinese military helicopters were spotted flying near the Indian border on at least two occasions. India deployed several Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets to the area. Reports that Chinese helicopters had repeatedly violated Indian airspace were denied by the Indian government.[85][86] There were reports of Chinese soldiers approaching Indian soldiers with improvised weaponry of barbed wire "sticks".[87] By 27 June, the Chinese were reported to have increased military presence on both the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, strengthened their positions near Finger 4 (contrary to what the status quo was in April), and had even started construction of a helipad, bunkers and pillboxes.[88]

Eastern Ladakh

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Locations along the DS-DBO Road (and the traditional customary boundary of China declared 1960).[93]

On 21 May, the Indian Express reported that Chinese troops had entered the Indian territory in the Galwan River valley and objected to the road construction by India within the (undisputed) Indian territory. The road under construction is a branch of the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road (DSDBO) which leads into the Galwan valley.[lower-alpha 5] The report also stated that "the Chinese pitched 70–80 tents in the area and then reinforced the area with troops, heavy vehicles, and monitoring equipment. These all happened not very far from the Indian side."[94] On 24 May, another report said that the Chinese soldiers invaded India at three different places: Hot Springs, Patrol Point 14, and Patrol Point 15. At each of these places, around 800–1,000 Chinese soldiers reportedly crossed the border and settled at a place about 2–3 km (1–2 mi) from the border. They also pitched tents and deployed heavy vehicles and monitoring equipment. The report added that India also deployed troops in the area and stationed them 300–500 metres (984–1,640 ft) from the Chinese.[20][21] According to Indian defence analyst Ajai Shukla, China captured 60 km² (23 sq mi) of Indian-patrolled territory between May and June 2020.[84][95] According to The Daily Telegraph, China captured 20 km² (7.7 sq mi) of Indian-patrolled territory in the Galwan valley.[82] According to EurAsian Times, the Chinese have a huge build-up including military-style bunkers, new permanent structures, military trucks, and road-building equipment. It quoted an Indian official who called it "the most dangerous situation since 1962."[96] An official, quoted by The Hindu, stated that "this amounted to a change in the status quo which would never be accepted by India."[97] On 30 May, the Business Standard reported that thousands of Chinese soldiers were "consolidating their positions and digging defences needed to repel Indian attacks." They also reported that there were about 18 guns at Pangong Tso and about 12 guns in the Galwan valley providing fire support for the Chinese. Indian troops had taken up positions to block any further advance by the PLA towards the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road.[98]

The Global Times, which is owned by the Chinese government, blamed India for the stand-offs and claimed that India had "illegally constructed defence facilities across the border into Chinese territory in the Galwan Valley region." Long Xingchun, a senior research fellow at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, wrote that the border friction was "an accident". India is definitely aware that the Galwan Valley region is in Chinese territory."[99] On 26 May, paramount leader Xi Jinping[6] urged the military "to prepare for the worst-case scenarios" and "to scale up battle preparedness." Furthermore, he said that the COVID-19 pandemic had brought a profound change on the global landscape about China's security and development.[99] On the same day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the current situation in Ladakh with the National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval and the Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat.[100] On 27 May 2020, the Chinese Ambassador to India as well as a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that the overall situation was stable.[101] However, news reports continued stating that thousands of Chinese soldiers were moving into the disputed regions in Ladakh. This move prompted India to deploy several infantry battalions from the Leh, the provincial capital of Ladakh and some other units from Kashmir.[102][103]

Galwan Valley skirmish

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Galwan River at the Line of Actual Control[93]

On 15 June, Indian and Chinese troops clashed for six hours in a steep section of a mountainous region in the Galwan Valley. The immediate cause of the incident is unknown with both sides releasing contradictory official statements in the aftermath.[106] Beijing said that Indian troops had attacked Chinese troops first[107] while on 18 June The Hindu quoted a "senior government official" in the Ministry of External Affairs of India who said their troops were ambushed with dammed rivulets being released and boulders being thrown by Chinese troops.[108] The statement said this happened while they were patrolling a disputed area where Colonel Santosh Babu had destroyed a Chinese tent two days earlier.[108] While soldiers carry firearms, due to decades of tradition designed to reduce the possibility of an escalation, agreements disallow usage of firearms, but the Chinese side is reported to possess iron rods and clubs.[109] As a result, hand-to-hand combat broke out, and the Indians called for reinforcements from a post about 2 miles (3.2 km) away. Eventually, up to 600 men were engaged in combat using stones, batons, iron rods, and other makeshift weapons. The fighting, which took place in near-total darkness, lasted for up to six hours.[110] According to senior Indian military officers, Chinese troops used batons wrapped in barbed wire and clubs embedded with nails.[111]

The fighting resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers of 16th Bihar Regiment including its commanding officer, Colonel Santosh Babu.[112][113] While three Indian soldiers died on the spot, others died later due to injuries and hypothermia.[114] Most of the soldiers who were killed fell to their deaths after losing their footing or being pushed off the ridge.[110] The clash took place near the fast-flowing Galwan River, and some soldiers from both sides fell into a rivulet and were killed or injured.[114] Bodies were later recovered from the Shyok River.[113] Some Indian soldiers had also been momentarily taken captive.[114] According to Indian media sources, the mêlée resulted in 43 Chinese casualties.[22][115] At a de-escalation meeting following the incident, the Chinese side accepted that the Chinese commanding officer was also killed in the mêlée.[24][116] The Chinese defence ministry confirmed the existence of Chinese casualties but refused to share the number.[117] Later on, when asked about an Indian minister's assertion about the number of Chinese casualties, China refused to comment.[118] U.S. intelligence reportedly concluded that 35 Chinese soldiers were killed.[19][119] Indian media reported that 10 Indian soldiers were released from Chinese custody in 17 June, including four officers.[9][120] Responding to the reports, the Indian army and the Chinese foreign ministry have both denied that any Indian personnel was taken into custody.[121]

On 16 June, Chinese Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the PLA's Western Command, said that the Indian military violated bilateral consensus. He further remarked that "the sovereignty over the Galwan Valley area had always belonged to China".[113][122][123] On 18 June, India's Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar made a statement saying that China had "unilaterally tried to change the status quo" and that its claims over the Galwan Valley were "exaggerated and untenable" and the violence was "premeditated and planned".[124][125] The same day, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell said that the Chinese PLA had "invaded" the "contested area" between India and China.[126] On 19 June, however, Prime Minister Modi declared that "neither have they (China) intruded into our border, nor has any post been taken over by them", contradicting multiple previous statements by the Indian government.[106][127] Later the Prime Minister's Office clarified that Narendra Modi wanted to indicate the bravery of 16 Bihar Regiment who had foiled the attempt of the Chinese side.[128][129] On 22 June, U.S. News & World Report reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that the chief of China's Western Theater Command had sanctioned the skirmish.[130]

In the aftermath of the incident at Galwan in which the Chinese used nailed-spiked rods, the Indian Army decided to equip soldiers along the border with lightweight riot gear as well as spiked clubs.[131][132] The Indian Air Force also started the process for emergency procurement of 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI and 21 Mikoyan MiG-29 from Russia.[133][134] On 20 June, India removed restriction on usage of firearms for Indian soldiers along the LAC.[135] Satellite images analysed by an Australian Strategic Policy Institute's analysis shows that the Chinese have increased construction in the Galwan valley since the 15 June skirmish.[136] The Chinese post that was destroyed by Indian troops on 15 June was reconstructed by 22 June, with an expansion in size and with more military movement. Other new defensive positions by both Indian and Chinese forces have also been built in Galwan.[137]

India's prime minister Narendra Modi holding a meeting with political parties via video conferencing to discuss the situation in Sino-Indian border areas on 19 June.

After the first melee took place, on 5–6 May 2020 at Pangong Tso, Foreign Secretary of India Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Sun Weidong, the Chinese ambassador to India.[145] Then, Ajit Doval has reportedly talked to the CCP Politburo member, Yang Jiechi, who is also a top diplomat under CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping.[145] On 28 May, in a press conference, Indian spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava, maintained that there were enough bilateral mechanisms to solve border disputes diplomatically.[146][35] These agreements encompass:[146]

Five bilateral treaties between India and China to address border disputes

• 1993: Agreement on the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the Sino-Indian Border
• 1996: Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of China on confidence-building Measures in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the Sino-Indian Border
• 2005: Protocol on the modalities for the implementation of confidence-building measures in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the Sino-Indian Border
• 2012: Establishment of a working mechanism for consultation and coordination on Sino-Indian border affairs
• 2013: Border defense cooperation agreement between India and China

Additionally there are other agreements related to the border question such as the 2005 "Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question".[147][148] However, some critics say that these agreements are "deeply flawed".[149] The Border personnel meeting (BPM) points have seen rounds of military talks in May–June; first between colonels, then between brigadiers, and then finally, on 2 June, more than three rounds between major generals.[150][151] All these talks were unsuccessful. Some Indian military sources said that India was still unclear with China's demands. "When one wants to stall a process, one makes absurd demands...they purposefully made some unreasonable demands", said the sources.[150] On 6 June 2020, lieutenant general-level talks took place between India and China in Chushul-Moldo.[150][152] The talks involved the Indian commander of Leh-headquartered XIV Corps and the Chinese commander of the Tibet Military District (South Xinjiang Military Region) Maj Gen Liu Lin.[153][152] Prior to talks on 6 June 2016, at lieutenant general-level, the Global Times warned India over American ties.[154]

Following the Galwan clash Chinese flags and effigies of paramount leader Xi Jinping were set afire in various places across India and various groups registered their protests in different ways. The Global Times responded to these protests saying that it is "extremely dangerous for India to allow anti-China groups to stir public opinion".[155][156] On 17 June 2020, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation regarding the Galwan skirmish, giving a firm message directed at China over the deaths of Indian soldiers.[157][158] The first communication, since the start of the border dispute, between the foreign ministers of China, Wang Yi and of India, S Jaishankar also happened post Galwan skirmish.[157] S Jaishankar accused the Chinese actions in Galwan to be "pre-meditated and planned".[157] On 20 June, Chinese social media platform WeChat removed the Indian Prime Minister's remarks on the Galwan skirmish,[159] which was uploaded by the Indian Embassy in China. The official statements of the Ministry of External Affairs were also removed. WeChat said that it removed the speech and statements because they divulged in state secrets and endangered national security.[160] The MEA spokesperson's statement on the incident was also removed from Weibo. Following this, the Indian embassy in China issued a clarification on its Weibo account that the post wasn't removed by them, and re-published a screenshot of the statement in Chinese.[161]

The second round of commanders meeting was on 22 June. In an 11-hour meeting, the commanders worked out a disengagement outline. On 24 June this disengagement was then diplomatically acknowledged by both sides during the virtual meeting of the "Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs".[136] Chinese spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that India "agreed to and withdrew its cross-border personnel in the Galvan Valley and dismantled the crossing facilities in accordance with China's request".[136][162]

Initially, India's economic response to China was mainly restricted to patriotic programs on news channels and social media publicity appeals, with very little actual impact on businesses and sales.[42] In May, in response to the border skirmishes, Sonam Wangchuk appealed to Indians to use "wallet power" and boycott Chinese products.[164] This appeal was covered by major media houses and supported by various celebrities.[164][165] Following the Galwan Valley clash on 15 June 2020, there were calls across India to boycott Chinese goods.[38][166] The Indian Railways cancelled a contract with a Chinese firm, while the Department of Telecommunication notified BSNL not to use any Chinese made product in upgradations.[41] Mumbai cancelled a monorail contract where the only bidders were Chinese companies; and alternatively said it would focus on finding an Indian technological partner instead.[167] Numerous Chinese contractors and firms were under enhanced scrutiny following the 2020 border friction. Chinese imports are going through additional checks at Indian customs.[168] (In retaliation, customs in China and Honk Kong held up Indian exports).[169] There are also calls for making sure the Chinese do not have access to strategic markets in India.[39] Swadeshi Jagaran Manch said that if the government was serious about making India self-reliant, Chinese companies should not be given projects such as the Delhi-Meerut RRTS.[40][170] The Haryana government cancelled a tender related to a power project in which Chinese firms had put in bid.[171] The Uttar Pradesh government Special Task Force personnel were given orders to delete 52 apps including TikTok and WeChat for security reasons while officials in Madhya Pradesh Police were given an advisory for the same.[172][173]

Numerous Indian government officials said that border tensions would have no impact on trade between the two countries.[37] Amid the increased visibility of calls for boycotting Chinese goods in the aftermath of the Galwan incidents, numerous industry analysts warned that a boycott would be counter-productive for India, would send out the wrong message to trade partners, and would have very limited impact on China, since both bilaterally as well as globally India is comparatively a much smaller trade power.[174][175][176][177] Experts also stated that while the boycott campaign was a good initiative, replacement products should be available in the immediate future too.[178] An example taken was the pharmaceutical industry in India which meets 70% of its active pharmaceutical ingredient requirements from China. Dumping in this sector is being scrutinized.[179][180] By the end of June, some analysts agreed that the border tensions between India and China would give the Make in India campaign a boost and increase the pace of achieving self-reliance in some sectors.[178] On 21 June 2020, the Global Times wrote in an opinion piece:[181]

Nationalist fever is being fueled. For instance, retired Indian army officer Ranjit Singh told Indians last week to throw Chinese goods out, asserting Indians "can break China's backbone economically". We hope Indian people won't be fooled by the radical elements in their country. India needs China, economically and geopolitically [...] Of the top 30 so-called unicorn startup enterprises in India, 18 have Chinese investments.[lower-alpha 6] And many daily necessities enjoyed by Indians [...] are produced by China. With both affordable prices and good quality, Chinese items are difficult to replace. It seems that extreme nationalist forces in India are again stirring up the "Boycott Made-in-China" message to vent their anger. But they need to look at what they have at home [...] Some claim that they could offload their 4G mobile networks to be replaced with equipment made in India, but in reality, until today there has not been a single Indian telecom maker that is able to manufacture 3G and 4G gears.[181]

The issue of Chinese materials in Indian Army bulletproof vests was again raised in June after the Galwan incidents.[183] A NITI Aayog member said that, it was due to the quality and the pricing that Chinese material was being used instead of Indian products.[184] Bullet-proof vests ordered by the government in 2019 had up to 40% Chinese material. On 20 June 2020, it was reported that development of an Indian bulletproof vest, the "Sarvatra Kavach", that is 100% made in India, is near completion.[185] The Maharashtra government put ₹5,000 crore (US$700 million) worth of Chinese projects on hold.[186] The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade brought out a list of over a 1000 Made in China goods on which the Government of India has sought comments for imposing import restrictions. Previously, the Department had asked private companies to submit a list of Chinese imports.[187][188] Incidents in Ladakh are also being taken as additional reasons to keep India away from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in which China has a big role.[189]

Sales of Chinese smartphones in India were not affected in the immediate aftermath of the skirmishes, despite calls for a boycott. The latest model of Chinese smartphone company OnePlus sold out within minutes in India on 18 June 2020, two days after the Galwan clash.[190][191] Xiaomi India's managing director said that the social media backlash would not affect sales, adding that Xiaomi handsets are "more Indian than Indian handset companies" and that even many non-Chinese phones, including American handsets, are made in and imported from China.[43][192] Following this, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex traders body in India, made a statement sharply criticising Xiaomi's managing director saying that he was "trying to please his Chinese masters by downplaying the mood of the nation".[193][194] TTK Prestige, India's largest kitchen appliances maker, said it would stop all imports from China from 30 September 2020 onwards.[195]

Following Galwan clash on 17 June, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Those Kashmiris tempted to look towards China as some sort of saviour need only google the plight of Uighur Muslims. Be careful what you wish for...".[196] He deactivated his twitter account following the tweet.[196] Khalid Shah, a Associate fellow at ORF, writes that at large the Kashmiri population has "left no stone unturned to mock the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Chinese belligerence."[197] Stone pelters in Srinagar used slogans such as "cheen aya, cheen aya" (China has arrived, China has arrived) to make fun of the Indian security forces while a joke going around is "cheen kot woat?" (where has China reached?). Memes show Xi Jingping dressed in Kashmiri attire with others showing him cooking wazwan. Khalid writes that while China has become a part of many conversations, online and offline, India should be worried that "Chinese bullying is compared to the actions of the Government of India".[197] Following the tensions with China, communication lines had been cut in Ladakh in places along the border causing a communication blackout, resulting in local councilors requesting the government for the lines to be restored.[198]

•  United States:

US President Donald Trump, on 27 May 2020, offered to mediate between China and India. This offer was rejected by both countries. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo also raised the issue in a podcast, and referring to China said that these were the kind of actions that authoritarian regimes took and that they can have a real impact.[199] Eliot Engel, chief of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, also expressed concern with the situation. He said that "China was demonstrating once again that it was willing to bully its neighbors".[200] On 2 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump discussed the Sino-Indian border situation.[201] In the aftermath of Galwan, the US Secretary of State tweeted condolences to the people of India for the lives lost;[202] while the US Department of State said that the situation was being closely watched.[203]

On 20 June, US President Donald Trump said that the US is in touch with both China and India to assist them in resolving the tensions.[204] On 25 June, Mike Pompeo stated that American troops were being moved out of Germany and are being redeployed in India and other American allied South East Asian countries because of the recent actions by the Communist Party of China and so as to be appropriately positioned to act as a counter to the PLA.[205] Congressman Ted Yoho made a statement on 27 June saying that, "China's actions towards India fall in line with a larger trend of the Communist Party of China using the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic as a cover to launch large scale military provocations against its neighbours in the region, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam [...] Now is the time for the world to come together and tell China that enough is enough." Congressman Ami Bera also expressed concern over the situation at the Indo-China border.[206]

•  Russia:

Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, stated on 1 June that Russia maintains that the issue should be solved bilaterally between India and China.[207][208] On 2 June, the Foreign Secretary of India updated and discussed the situation with the Russian Ambassador to India, Nikolay R. Kudashev.[209] Following Galwan, on 17 June, the Ambassador of India in Russia spoke to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister about the situation.[210] Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the President of Russia, said that the situation was being closely watched.[211]

Russia initiated virtual talks between RIC (Russia–India–China) on 22 June.[212][213] Russia had scheduled the RIC trilateral for March but delayed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[212] In relation to the border situation between India and China, Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov said that the topics for the meeting were already been agreed upon and "the RIC agenda does not involve discussing issues that are related to bilateral relations of a country with another member."[214] During the trilateral meeting India reminded Russia and China of India's selfless involvement in the Russian and Chinese interests during the World War II, where India helped both the countries by keeping supply lines opened in the Persian Corridor and over the Himalayan Hump.[215]

Russia argued that a Sino-Indian confrontation would be a "bad idea" for both the countries, for the Eurasian region and the international system. Russia said such confrontation will damage the Chinese legitimacy in the international system and will reduce the existing limited Chinese soft power. It had advised both the countries that it would be a winnable situation for both the countries with no confrontation while giving the example of zero confrontation of the Soviet Union and the US during the Cold War.[216] Russia also proposed to hold the first meeting of the defence chiefs of the three countries which China and India also agreed during the meeting. However, Russia reiterated that China and India can sort out its differences through bilateral means without the involvement of the third party including Russia.[215]

•  Pakistan: Following the Galwan clash, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan was closely watching the situation and "held India responsible for the conflict."[217] Pakistan officially backed China's position in Ladakh.[218]
•  Indonesia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia called for India and China to both reduce tensions in the aftermath of Galwan.[219]
•  Australia: On 1 June, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell said that the border issue should be solved bilaterally. He also expressed concern about Chinese presence in the South China Sea.[220]
•  Italy: The Ambassador of Italy to India, Vincenzo de Luca expressed deepest sympathies following Galwan, adding "India and China are both very important partners not only for Italy, but also for the European Union as a whole." Both countries are crucial actors for regional and global stability".[203]
•  Europe: Following the Galwan skirmish on 15 June, the spokesperson for the European Union, Virginie Battu-Henriksson, called for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution.[221]
•  Maldives: In response to the Galwan clash, the Foreign Minister of the Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, tweeted, "Maldives extends deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost in recent clashes on the border. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, loved ones, and communities of the soldiers."[203]
•  France: In the aftermath of the Galwan skirmish, the envoy of France tweeted condolences and concern for the Indian lives lost at Galwan valley.[203]
•  Germany: Following the Galwan clash, the envoy for Germany tweeted, "Our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers who lost their lives in Galwan."[203]
•  Japan: In response to the Galwan skirmish, Japanese envoy to India Satoshi Suzuki tweeted condolences for the Indian lives lost following Galwan.[203]
•  United Nations: Following the Galwan skirmish, the United Nations called for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution.[221][222]

Chinese media have given little to no attention to the dispute and have downplayed the clashes. In the first month of the standoff, there was only a single editorial piece in the China Daily and the People's Daily.[223] The People's Daily and the PLA Daily did not cover the Galwan clash while the Global Times (Chinese) carried it on page 16.[224] The state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) carried the official military statement on social media with no further coverage.[224] The Global Times ran a number of opinion pieces and one editorial which questioned why China did not disclose its death toll publicly.[224][223][225] However, the Chinese media welcomed Prime Minister Modi's 19 June statement.[106] The Global Times quoted Lin Minwang, a professor at Fudan University's Center for South Asian Studies in Shanghai, as saying that "Modi's remarks will be very helpful to ease the tensions because as the Prime Minister of India, he has removed the moral basis for hardliners to further accuse China".[226]

In India, nearly all mainstream newspapers carried front page stories as well as multi-page stories of the incident.[227] Following the June 15 clash in Galwan, Times Now published a list that it said contained the names of the Chinese soldiers who were killed in the clash; multiple sources said that it was fake news.[228][229][230] Another list reported by Indian media that was said to also show Chinese soldiers who were killed in action was described by Chinese spokesperson Zhao Lijian as fake news.[231] Ahead of the commanders' meeting on 6 June, disinformation campaigns were reportedly run by Chinese state-controlled media as well as corporations. The Chinese broadcasters showed military manoeuvres along the border, reportedly designed to frighten the Indians.[232] TikTok was reported to have given "shadow bans" to videos related to the border tension. Statements from India were removed from Chinese social media companies such as Weibo and WeChat.[233][234][235] Following the Galwan clash, international coverage in The New York Times[236] and The Guardian commented on the "nationalistic" character of the leaders of both countries and the "dangers posed by expansionist nationalism".[237] The BBC described the situation in Galwan as "an extraordinary escalation with rocks and clubs".[238][239]

• 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes
• 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish
• Kalapani territory
• Doklam
• 1962 Sino Indian War

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