Note given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peking, to the Embassy of India in China, 21 July 1962

Note given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peking, to the Embassy of India in China, 21 July 1962

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China presents its compliments to the Embassy of India in China and has the honour to state the following:

According to reports from Chinese frontier guards in Sinkiang Indian troops which have intruded into Chip Chap valley in Sinkiang suddenly launched an armed attack on the Chinese frontier post at approximately 25° 20' N, 78° 05' E at about 19.00 hours on July 21, 1962. The said Indian troops began to advance on the Chinese post at 18.35 hours on the same day. From 19.00 hours they began to attack the Chinese post by continuous firing in disregard of the Chinese frontier guards' repeated advice by waving arms and shouting. As their lives were under direct threat the Chinese frontier guards were compelled to resort to self defence. According to the latest information the aforesaid Chinese post is still under the Indian troops' attack. The Chinese Government hereby lodges the strongest protest with the Indian Government against this.

The Chinese Government has repeatedly stated that China is not willing to fight with India and the Sino-Indian boundary question can be settled only through routine negotiations. It has all along exercised the greatest forbearance and self-restraint towards Indian armed intrusions and provocations on many occasions. However the Chinese Government can by no means sit idle while its frontier guards are being encircled and annihilated aggressors.  At this critical moment the Chinese Government demands that the Indian Government immediately order the Indian troops to stop attacking the aforesaid Chinese post and withdraw from the area lest the situation be further aggravated. If the Indian Government should ignore the warning of the Chinese Government and continue to persist in its own way India must bear full responsibility for all the consequences that may arise therefrom.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of India in China the assurances of its highest consideration.