The 2020 Ladakh standoff
The 2020 Ladakh standoff The 2020 Ladakh standoff (also known as the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes) was a major military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, marking the most serious border crisis between India and China since the 1962 war. It involved troop build-ups, multiple friction points, and a deadly clash, leading to the first fatalities on the border in 45 years. Background and Triggers The standoff began in early May 2020 amid longstanding disputes over the undemarcated LAC (the de facto border). Key triggers included: Both sides accelerating infrastructure development near the border (roads, bridges, airfields). India's construction of a road in the Galwan Valley area, connecting to the Daulat Beg Oldi airbase, which China viewed as provocative. China's concerns over India's 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, creating the Union Territory of Ladakh. Broader strategic competition, includin...