Why China didn't intervene in 1971 war?

[Bharat Muslim]

Why China didn't intervene in 1971 war?

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

China and Pakistan were not very close back then.

The pro-American Ayub Khan famously offered to form a joint-defense with India, AGAINST China during the 1959-1962 clashes.

Bhutto's foreign policy legacy - DAWN.COM

Bhutto was then leading Pakistan's delegation at the UN General Assembly. He was alarmed at President Ayub Khan's offer of joint defence to India.

Bhutto felt that only those unlettered in international affairs could believe that such an offer would be accepted. In fact, it was more likely to incur the hostility of China which had so far, despite our membership of anti-communist western alliances, refrained from criticising Pakistan.

I always say this was the biggest missed opportunity for Pakistan. If they had accepted our offer during 1962, they could have taken Kashmir from an already defeated India.

Pakistan helped India, and in return, India repaid them with cruelty.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Why China didn't intervene in 1971 war?

Because the PLA was not capable of beginning an offensive in December. They did mobilize their troops but knew that actions will be localized to a large extent. Precisely the reason why our operations were launched in the first week of December itself.

 

[Goenitz]

I think, beneath the surface, they might did.. as Pakistan was weak, especially moral wise.. so vhina might have prevented India of any offence on west pakistan... !!! not sure though

 

[SarthakGanguly]

I think, beneath the surface, they might did.. as Pakistan was weak, especially moral wise.. so vhina might have prevented India of any offence on west pakistan... !!! not sure though

Soviet Union was an important factor. And Sino Soviet relations were bad, to say the least.

Besides, they were unprepared for a rapid action. The Indians wrapped the missions up in 12 days. Within that time China had no real window of action.

 

[nForce]

China and Pakistan were not very close back then.

The pro-American Ayub Khan famously offered to form a joint-defense with India, AGAINST China during the 1959-1962 clashes.

Bhutto's foreign policy legacy - DAWN.COM



I always say this was the biggest missed opportunity for Pakistan. If they had accepted our offer during 1962, they could have taken Kashmir from an already defeated India.

And you conveniently forgot that Pakistan had attacked India on 1965.

 

[Jf Thunder]

China and Pakistan were not very close back then.

The pro-American Ayub Khan famously offered to form a joint-defense with India, AGAINST China during the 1959-1962 clashes.

Bhutto`s foreign policy legacy - - DAWN.COM



I always say this was the biggest missed opportunity for Pakistan. If they had accepted our offer during 1962, they could have taken Kashmir from an already defeated India.

actually no, thats what USA wanted Ayub replied that the Americans should be happy he wasnt siding with the Chinese against the Indians.
and he also knew that China wasnt stupid to try to go deep into India, and he was right, China just captured the land they wanted and stopped :p

and btw you did help us during the 1965 war, and you also promised us planes in 1971 should our stock fall too low, but it didnt, and aside from that the days of the war caused the Himalayan roads to get blocked hence, the PLA couldnt get through, it was also part of the IA strategy, to atack when China couldnt intervene.
even after that China helped us get our POWs back, by vetoing every attempt, at BD joinign the UN, and maybe China was also the last country to officially recogonize BD.

 

[JonAsad]

we were waiting for the almighty American fleet-

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

China and Pakistan were not very close back then.

The pro-American Ayub Khan famously offered to form a joint-defense with India, AGAINST China during the 1959-1962 clashes.

I always say this was the biggest missed opportunity for Pakistan. If they had accepted our offer during 1962, they could have taken Kashmir from an already defeated India.

By siding with India they made a really big mistake, and India repaid their kindness with cruelty.

So lets us get this straight, China and Pakistan were not close back then, but Pakistan managed to assist China in its normalization of its ties with the USA.

So this is how China repaid Pakistan for its assistance

"The Pakistanis are working in the belief that President Nixon told President Yahya that the US wished to seek an accommodation with Communist China and would appreciate the Pakistani's passing this word to Chou En-lai and using their influence to promote this. Yahya is apparently debating whether to call in the Chicom Ambassador to convey the message or whether to wait until he sees Chou Enlai, probably some months hence

Getting to Beijing: Henry Kissinger's Secret 1971 Trip | US-China Institute

 

[SarthakGanguly]

actually no, thats what USA wanted Ayub replied that the Americans should be happy he wasnt siding with the Chinese against the Indians.
and he also knew that China wasnt stupid to try to go deep into India, and he was right, China just captured the land they wanted and stopped :p

and btw you did help us during the 1965 war, and you also promised us planes in 1971 should our stock fall too low, but it didnt, and aside from that the days of the war caused the Himalayan roads to get blocked hence, the PLA couldnt get through, it was also part of the IA strategy, to atack when China couldnt intervene.
even after that China helped us get our POWs back, by vetoing every attempt, at BD joinign the UN, and maybe China was also the last country to officially recogonize BD.

China was not in a position to do anything. Hate Manekshaw as much you want, but he knew grand strategy. The only way BD could have been prevented in December was for the Seventh Fleet to appear in the BoB asap - which did not happen.

 

[JonAsad]

China was not in a position to do anything. Hate Manekshaw as much you want, but he knew grand strategy. The only way BD could have been prevented in December was for the Seventh Fleet to appear in the BoB asap - which did not happen.

and If we wanted to -

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

Because the PLA was not capable of beginning an offensive in December. They did mobilize their troops but knew that actions will be localized to a large extent. Precisely the reason why our operations were launched in the first week of December itself.

PLA was capable of intervening. Sino-Indian war of 1962 was mostly fought in the month of November. In fact in 1971 some reserve troops were posted along Sino-Indian border, to prevent any Chinese intervention.
But i guess China chose show Pakistan its place in China's perception

 

[Fireurimagination]

Doesn't China has a policy where it doesn't allow it soldiers to fight other countries wars? I believe this is the reason why China doesn't provide troops for UN peace keeping missions (correct me if I am wrong I have heard something on these lines)

 

[Gauss]

Money/resources is always the biggest factor in war. As a case in point consider the fact that only usa had the economic might to be able to occupy two already defeated countries this past decade.
In 1971 china was very poor so it couldn't afford any wars. Pakistan and India on the other hand were in bed with the two superpowers of the time.

 

[Bharat Muslim]

and If we wanted to -

So you admit that you guys never ever deserved East Pakistan? Why then do you accuse India of waging an immoral war?