The Chip Chap River (meaning: "quiet river")[1][2][a] is a tributary of the Shyok River that flows from the disputed Aksai Chin region administered by China to Ladakh in India. It originates at the eastern edge of the Depsang Plains and flows west, skirting around the Depsang Plains in the north. It discharges into the Shyok River, forming one of the upstream tributaries of the Indus River.
The old caravan route between Leh and Yarkand passed through the Depsang Plains crossing the Chip Chap River. Daulat Beg Oldi on the northern bank of the river en route to the Karakoram Pass used to be a regular halting place. Although the trading caravans came to an end in the 1950s, the route continues to be a popular trekking trail.[3][4]
Depsang Plains (Survey of India, 1916)The upper course of the Chip Chap river in Aksai Chin (AMS, 1950)
The main stream of the Chip Chap River flows westwards along the northern edge of the Depsang Plains. The upper course of the river is in a relatively flat area with a drop of only 190 metres over 30 km. Several mountain streams from the south drain into the relatively stagnant pool of water in this area. Near Tianwendian more streams from the Depsang Plans join the river, bringing in water from the high mountains of Karakoram range to the west. Near the Line of Actual Control that separates the Indian- and Chinese-controlled portions of Depsang Plains, the Lungnak Lungpa stream joins from north. Another stream passing by Daulat Beg Oldi joins the river in the Indian controlled area. The combined river joins the Shyok at an elevation of 4800 m.
The 1899 British offer to China for the border in Aksai Chin (the Macartney–MacDonald Line) placed the entire course of the Chip Chap River in the Indian territory.[5] The 1956 claim line of China also did the same.[6][7] But by 1960, China advanced its claim line to include a major portion of the Chip Chap river, coming within 4 miles of Daulat Beg Oldi.[8][9]
Sino-Indian border disputeedit
45km 30miles
Galwan River
Karakash River
Qizil Langar
Daulat Beg Oldi
Karakoram Pass
Tianwendian
Source of Chip Chap
Shyok River
Chip Chap River and surroundings
The Chip Chap river valley played a key role in the evolution of the border conflict between China and India in 1961–62. In September 1961 India discovered that China had established a military post in the Chip Chap valley four miles east of the Indian post at Daulat Beg Oldi. China had also constructed a motorable road leading to the post. Finally, the Chinese troops attempted to capture an Indian patrol in the area. India concluded that China was attempting to extend its control to its 1960 claim line.[8][9]
In response, the Indian government evolved a policy that came to be called the 'forward policy'. The government directed the Indian army to patrol as far towards the international border as possible, asking it to establish posts so as to prevent the Chinese from advancing any further west.[10] In March–April 1962, the Indian army created posts in the Chip Chap valley as well as Depsang Plains to prevent Chinese incursions.[11][12]
In May 1962 a stand-off occurred as the Chinese troops moved toward an Indian post, giving every indication of intending to attack. The army asked if it should withdraw, but the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked it to hold firm and not submit to the threat of force. The Chinese troops eventually withdrew.[13] Following a similar standoff in the Galwan valley, the commanders in Ladakh were authorised to fire on Chinese if they came too close.[14] This happened in September 1962. When the Chinese troops came close to one of the Indian posts, the Indians opened fire at "point-blank range", killing several men. The Indian government arranged for the bodies to be returned to the Chinese without generating any publicity.[15][16] This was perhaps the last major clash before the breakout of open hostilities on 20 October, after which all the Indian posts were attacked with major force and neutralised. By the end of the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Chinese forces had occupied all the territory up to their 1960 claim line.[17][b]
Notesedit
^The original Yarkandi name was "Chipchak" river. The Ladakhi name is Tsaka Chu (salty river).
^Mohan Guruswamy has claimed that the Chinese had occupied the area in early 1950s.[18] This is not corroborated by scholarly sources.
Referencesedit
^Kapadia, Harish (1999). Across peaks & passes in Ladakh, Zanskar & East Karakoram. New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company. p. 229. ISBN8173871000.
^Kapadia, Harish (1990–91). . Himalayan Journal. The Himalayan Club. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
^Himalayan Camping, Murgo to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO)
^ The Sino-Indian border dispute: section 2: 1959-61, CIA, 1963, p. 81, map Sino-Indian Border – Chinese Claim 'Lines' of 1956 and 1960 in the Western Sector.
^Mohan Guruswamy. . Centre for Policy Alternatives, India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007.
Bibliographyedit
Cheema, Brig Amar (2015), The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective, Lancer Publishers, pp. 51–, ISBN978-81-7062-301-4
Filippi, Filippo de (1932), The Italian Expedition to the Himalaya, Karakoram and Eastern Turkestan (1913-1914), London: Edward Arnold & Co. – via archive.org
Hoffmann, Steven A. (1990), India and the China Crisis, University of California Press, ISBN978-0-520-06537-6
Lamb, Alastair (1973), The Sino-Indian Border in Ladakh(PDF), Australian National University Press
chip, chap, river, meaning, quiet, river, tributary, shyok, river, that, flows, from, disputed, aksai, chin, region, administered, china, ladakh, india, originates, eastern, edge, depsang, plains, flows, west, skirting, around, depsang, plains, north, discharg. The Chip Chap River meaning quiet river 1 2 a is a tributary of the Shyok River that flows from the disputed Aksai Chin region administered by China to Ladakh in India It originates at the eastern edge of the Depsang Plains and flows west skirting around the Depsang Plains in the north It discharges into the Shyok River forming one of the upstream tributaries of the Indus River Chip Chap RiverLocation of the mouthLocationCountriesChina and IndiaProvincesLadakh and XinjiangPhysical characteristicsSource locationAksai Chin coordinates35 19 03 N 78 23 56 E 35 3175 N 78 3990 E 35 3175 78 3990 elevation5 290 metres 17 360 ft Mouth locationShyok River coordinates35 17 39 N 77 44 16 E 35 2941 N 77 7377 E 35 2941 77 7377 elevation4 800 metres 15 700 ft Length65 kilometres 40 mi Basin featuresRiver systemIndus River The old caravan route between Leh and Yarkand passed through the Depsang Plains crossing the Chip Chap River Daulat Beg Oldi on the northern bank of the river en route to the Karakoram Pass used to be a regular halting place Although the trading caravans came to an end in the 1950s the route continues to be a popular trekking trail 3 4 Contents 1 Course 2 Sino Indian border dispute 3 Notes 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 External linksCourse edit nbsp Depsang Plains Survey of India 1916 nbsp The upper course of the Chip Chap river in Aksai Chin AMS 1950 The main stream of the Chip Chap River flows westwards along the northern edge of the Depsang Plains The upper course of the river is in a relatively flat area with a drop of only 190 metres over 30 km Several mountain streams from the south drain into the relatively stagnant pool of water in this area Near Tianwendian more streams from the Depsang Plans join the river bringing in water from the high mountains of Karakoram range to the west Near the Line of Actual Control that separates the Indian and Chinese controlled portions of Depsang Plains the Lungnak Lungpa stream joins from north Another stream passing by Daulat Beg Oldi joins the river in the Indian controlled area The combined river joins the Shyok at an elevation of 4800 m The 1899 British offer to China for the border in Aksai Chin the Macartney MacDonald Line placed the entire course of the Chip Chap River in the Indian territory 5 The 1956 claim line of China also did the same 6 7 But by 1960 China advanced its claim line to include a major portion of the Chip Chap river coming within 4 miles of Daulat Beg Oldi 8 9 Sino Indian border dispute edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 45km30miles nbsp nbsp Galwan River nbsp Karakash River nbsp Qizil Langar nbsp Daulat Beg Oldi nbsp Karakoram Pass nbsp Tianwendian nbsp nbsp Source ofChip Chap nbsp Shyok River nbsp nbsp nbsp Chip Chap River and surroundings The Chip Chap river valley played a key role in the evolution of the border conflict between China and India in 1961 62 In September 1961 India discovered that China had established a military post in the Chip Chap valley four miles east of the Indian post at Daulat Beg Oldi China had also constructed a motorable road leading to the post Finally the Chinese troops attempted to capture an Indian patrol in the area India concluded that China was attempting to extend its control to its 1960 claim line 8 9 In response the Indian government evolved a policy that came to be called the forward policy The government directed the Indian army to patrol as far towards the international border as possible asking it to establish posts so as to prevent the Chinese from advancing any further west 10 In March April 1962 the Indian army created posts in the Chip Chap valley as well as Depsang Plains to prevent Chinese incursions 11 12 In May 1962 a stand off occurred as the Chinese troops moved toward an Indian post giving every indication of intending to attack The army asked if it should withdraw but the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked it to hold firm and not submit to the threat of force The Chinese troops eventually withdrew 13 Following a similar standoff in the Galwan valley the commanders in Ladakh were authorised to fire on Chinese if they came too close 14 This happened in September 1962 When the Chinese troops came close to one of the Indian posts the Indians opened fire at point blank range killing several men The Indian government arranged for the bodies to be returned to the Chinese without generating any publicity 15 16 This was perhaps the last major clash before the breakout of open hostilities on 20 October after which all the Indian posts were attacked with major force and neutralised By the end of the Sino Indian War of 1962 the Chinese forces had occupied all the territory up to their 1960 claim line 17 b Notes edit The original Yarkandi name was Chipchak river The Ladakhi name is Tsaka Chu salty river Mohan Guruswamy has claimed that the Chinese had occupied the area in early 1950s 18 This is not corroborated by scholarly sources References edit Kapadia Harish 1999 Across peaks amp passes in Ladakh Zanskar amp East Karakoram New Delhi Indus Publishing Company p 229 ISBN 8173871000 Kapadia Harish 1990 91 Lots in a name Himalayan Journal The Himalayan Club Archived from the original on 2 December 2013 Himalayan Camping Murgo to Daulat Beg Oldi DBO Himalayan Camping Karakoram Pass Part III Lamb Sino Indian Border in Ladakh 1973 pp 108 109 map 19 The Sino Indian border dispute section 2 1959 61 CIA 1963 p 81 map Sino Indian Border Chinese Claim Lines of 1956 and 1960 in the Western Sector Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 p 93 map 5 a b Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 pp 95 96 a b Raghavan War and Peace in Modern India 2010 p 273 Raghavan War and Peace in Modern India 2010 p 275 Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 pp 103 Raghavan War and Peace in Modern India 2010 p 285 Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 pp 104 Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 pp 106 Cheema Crimson Chinar 2015 p 173 Maxwell India s China War 1970 p 253 Hoffman India and the China Crisis 1990 pp 76 93 Mohan Guruswamy No longer a Great Game Centre for Policy Alternatives India Archived from the original on 16 October 2007 Bibliography editCheema Brig Amar 2015 The Crimson Chinar The Kashmir Conflict A Politico Military Perspective Lancer Publishers pp 51 ISBN 978 81 7062 301 4 Filippi Filippo de 1932 The Italian Expedition to the Himalaya Karakoram and Eastern Turkestan 1913 1914 London Edward Arnold amp Co via archive org Hoffmann Steven A 1990 India and the China Crisis University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 06537 6 Lamb Alastair 1973 The Sino Indian Border in Ladakh PDF Australian National University Press Maxwell Neville 1970 India s China War Pantheon Books ISBN 978 0 394 47051 1 Raghavan Srinath 2010 War and Peace in Modern India Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 978 1 137 00737 7Further reading editSmith Chris 1994 India s Ad Hoc Arsenal Oxford University Press p 75 ISBN 978 0 19 829168 8 Kavic Lorne J 1967 India s Quest for Security University of California Press p 169External links editMaps of Ladakh Bame Duniya blogspot 19 March 2013 35 16 30 N 78 11 10 E 35 275 N 78 186 E 35 275 78 186 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chip Chap River amp oldid 1152676652, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
