Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Nehru's Early India-China Military Ties Before 1962 War
A long time ago, India and China were very friendly.
The leader of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to make the military of both countries work together.
China sent a military officer to India first.
India wanted to do the same but had a debate about the rank of their officer.
Nehru decided that the officer should be smart and good with people, not just high-ranking.
They chose Brigadier R K Kochhar for the job.
Nehru also wanted Chinese officers to join Indian military exercises and even suggested sending Indian officers to China.
But later, things got worse, and the two countries had a big fight over their border in 1962.
China initiated formal military ties by stationing a Military Attaché in New Delhi in 1950.
India recognized the People's Republic of China on April 1, 1950.
Nehru resolved a bureaucratic debate by prioritizing the candidate's intelligence and adaptability over rank for India's Military Attaché to China.
Brigadier R K Kochhar was appointed as India's first Military Attaché to Beijing in 1953.
Nehru advocated for including Chinese military representatives in India's domestic defense activities, emphasizing reciprocity and equality among nations.
- Who
- Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the governments of India and China
- What
- Early efforts to establish military ties between India and China
- When
- Early 1950s to late 1950s
- Where
- India and China
- Why
- To foster diplomatic and military cooperation and mutual respect
- Initial Military Attaché
- China
- India's Recognition of China
- April 1, 1950
- Panchsheel Agreement
- 1954
- India's First Military Attaché to China
- Brigadier R K Kochhar
- Nehru's Directive on Military Exercises
- April 25, 1953
- China's Road-Building in Aksai Chin
- Later in the 1950s
- India-China Border War
- 1962