On October 7, 1962, ** held his last pre-war meeting with Indian Foreign Ambassador Banerjee in Beijing. Banerjee repeatedly threatened with force, but the marshal who had been fighting horses for decades was not afraid of this, and he responded directly: "What you said about 'using force' is a joke, then we'll see you on the battlefield!" ”
Our army captured the enemy's tank, and the ** general sat heroically on the top of the tank and took a group photo. In this meeting of national interests, Banerjee's inner contradictions and struggles are deeply worrying.
He was adamantly opposed to war with us, but in the face of Nehru's insistence, Banerjee had no choice but to face our anger. Despite this, Nehru still harshly criticized Banerjee for his lack of vision and judgment of the situation, while also accusing him of lacking the courage to be tough on China.
Nehru's so-called "vision" was nothing more than an attempt to reap the enthusiasm of the Indian people by defeating our country, thereby building up personal prestige, and then developing his ambitions to integrate the national system.
It was not until 1947 that India formed a real national concept, while China had already completed its unification as early as the time of Qin Shi Huang more than 2,000 years ago. India is a "fragmented" country, made up of numerous princely states and tribes who lack a sense of national identity and are willing to lead the way for the colonizers to stabilize their rule.
During the British colonial period, more than 300 million people were ruled with just 980 civil servants, and after independence, Nehru urgently needed to integrate India and create a sense of identity among the people.
So, in 1959, he provoked a border conflict between China and India, hoping to use this opportunity to build his prestige and realize his dream of a "strong India".
On October 7, 1962, China's Foreign Minister** met with Indian Ambassador Banerjee for the last hope for peace. Because of the tensions on the South Asian border, this meeting is like the last floodgate of the flood, and if India can change its degree, it can avoid war between the two countries.
* Straight to the point: "Mr. Banerjee, my country has repeatedly called for a settlement of the Sino-Indian border issue through negotiation and consultation, but your country has ignored it. "According to **, the Indian army has gathered a large number of elite troops and forcibly crossed the "McMahon Line" into the Kejielang Valley, for what purpose?
Why did the Indian army enter Chinese territory in large numbers? Is it going to war with us? At this time, Banerjee seemed tough, but in fact he was bitter because Nehru insisted that China would not dare to go to war with India.
But Banerjee is well aware that China is brave in the face of difficulties, and the Indian army is delusional that China will back down, but he clearly knows that China is only temporarily patient.
Just as a soldier in a front-line trench knows the temperature of a bullet and the power of a shell better than a commander......But Banerjee had to carry out Nehru's orders, so he said firmly: "We are willing to negotiate with China, but!"
You, China, are not willing to negotiate with India. Although China requested a meeting on 15 October last month, we in India cannot accept your preconditions. ”
His remarks implied a reluctance to negotiate with China, and they insisted on an armed invasion.
* Anger and Banerjee's excuse: ** Suppressed anger and asked Banerjee why the Indian army invaded Chinese territory, and the Chinese side was willing to sit down with India to negotiate a settlement of the border issue on the basis of adjusting individual conditions, but the Indian side has always lacked sincerity.
The smell of gunpowder in this conversation became stronger and stronger, and the two argued for a long time. ** Hoping that India will sit down at the negotiating table, Banerjee has been polite and polite, always avoiding the topic of negotiations, looking for excuses for preconditions, McMahon's division, and accusing China of insincerity.
* Coming to talks in good faith, Banerjee has always avoided negotiations. ** Referring to the recent high-level statements of India, Menon, as defense minister, has always publicly clamored for a limited war with China; Nehru sent his henchmen to the border and made some kind of "Livorno" plan.
* Question Banerjee, isn't this a war? Banerjee was speechless for a moment in the face of **'s questioning, after all, he knew India's intentions better than **, but he did what he was told, and if he wasn't tough, he couldn't explain it to Nehru.
The talks did not make any substantive progress, and the border issue between the two countries remains unresolved.
Nehru insisted on India's position, believing that India would be willing to negotiate only if China recognized the border line proposed by India, otherwise force would be used. This made ** angry, and he made it clear China's position: the McMahon Line was imposed on China by imperialism, and India should not send troops to cross this line for armed provocations, and the ** squadron is not easy to deal with.
* also said that even if India's military equipment is better than China's, the combat effectiveness of the squadron should not be underestimated, and neither Chiang's army nor the US army can match it. In the end, ** said in a firm tone that if India insists on using force, then see you on the battlefield, fight to the end, or return to the negotiating table.
* Unable to reach an agreement with Banerjee in the last meeting before the Sino-Indian war, Banerjee left in desperation. He contacted Nehru via encrypted communication, stressing that the squadron would definitely fight back.
However, Nehru scoffed at this, arguing that China did not dare to engage India on a large scale because of the pressure of the Cold War. Nehru had received similar telegrams from Banerjee on several occasions, considering him timid, lacking vision and international vision.
On October 20, the second day of the Sino-Indian War, Zhou Gong drafted a note document that the squadron would launch a counterattack, and clearly stated the reasons and position for the counterattack.
According to the memories of the veteran comrades, the note was sent on 19 October, but the Xinhua News Agency sent the note on 21 October. The note was sent to the Indian side, but there was a small episode in the process.
* Ask a comrade from the Protocol Department to wake up Banerjee, but when he arrives, Banerjee is asleep, and no matter how the Protocol people knock on the door, Banerjee is asleep as before.
In the 1962 emergency situation on the Indian army's position, after trying the sound, doorbell and ** to no avail, in desperation, they decided to take more direct action. They climbed through the window and shouted in Banerjee's ear to wake him up.
Banerjee slept very deeply, and was reluctant to leave the warm bed until he was forcibly pulled up. This scene makes people wonder, at the moment of the war, the smoke of gunfire is everywhere, and the two armies are facing each other, why can Banerjee lie so peacefully in the bed?
Are you really sleepy, or are you pretending to be asleep? Whatever the reason, his actions are worth pondering and learning from.