New Delhi: Five years after the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, tensions have resurfaced—this time over a movie based on the incident. China has strongly objected to what it calls a “misrepresentation of facts,” while India has maintained that filmmakers are entitled to artistic freedom. Behind this controversy, however, lies a brutal and chilling real-life event that remains one of the darkest chapters in India-China relations.
The Galwan clash took place on June 15, 2020, in Ladakh’s Galwan river valley, located at an altitude of around 15,000 feet along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The confrontation erupted when a small group of Indian soldiers moved to dismantle a Chinese tent that was supposed to be removed after a mutual agreement reached during talks on June 6.
However, tensions spiraled when Chinese soldiers targeted Indian commanding officer Colonel B.L. Santosh Babu. Reinforcements from both sides rushed in, and the face-off soon turned into a fierce hand-to-hand battle fought in freezing, pitch-dark conditions using batons and clubs wrapped with nails.
The clash lasted nearly six hours, leading to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, while China officially acknowledged only four casualties. Indian military sources, however, have long suggested that the actual Chinese death toll was significantly higher—estimated at around 40 soldiers. Many soldiers from both sides fell into the icy Galwan river, with severe hypothermia proving fatal.
More than two years later, Australian investigative outlet The Klaxon reported that at least 38 PLA soldiers may have drowned while attempting to cross the river—though China officially acknowledged only one drowning victim, Junior Sergeant Wang Zhuoran.
The violent clash triggered one of the worst diplomatic freezes between India and China in decades. New Delhi accused Beijing of attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo, while China blamed Indian troops for provoking the confrontation. Although some degree of thawing has been seen in recent months, relations have not fully normalized.
The controversy has now flared again following China’s criticism of a Bollywood film based on the Galwan incident. China’s state-run newspaper Global Times claimed that the Galwan Valley lies on the Chinese side of the LAC and accused India of provoking the violence. It argued that “no amount of cinematic exaggeration can rewrite history.”
India, however, has countered the claims, asserting creative liberty while standing firm on its position regarding the incident.
The Galwan clash not only reshaped the diplomatic landscape but also left deep emotional scars, symbolizing sacrifice, bravery, and unresolved geopolitical tension that continues to echo even today.