# Chip Chap River > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chip_Chap_River > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chip_Chap_River.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Chap_River > Source revision: 1357287498 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) River in Ladakh and Xinjiang, China and India Chip Chap River Location of the mouth Location Countries China and India Provinces Ladakh and Xinjiang Physical characteristics Source • location Aksai Chin • coordinates 35°19′03″N 78°23′56″E / 35.3175°N 78.3990°E / 35.3175; 78.3990 • elevation 5,290 metres (17,360 ft) Mouth • location Shyok River • coordinates 35°17′39″N 77°44′16″E / 35.2941°N 77.7377°E / 35.2941; 77.7377 • elevation 4,800 metres (15,700 ft) Length 65 kilometres (40 mi) Basin features River system Indus River The **Chip Chap River** (meaning: "quiet river")[1][2][a] is a tributary of the [Shyok River](/source/Shyok_River) that flows from the disputed [Aksai Chin](/source/Aksai_Chin) region administered by China to [Ladakh](/source/Ladakh) in India. It originates at the eastern edge of the [Depsang Plains](/source/Depsang_Plains) and flows west, skirting around the Depsang Plains in the north. It discharges into the [Shyok River](/source/Shyok_River), forming one of the upstream tributaries of the [Indus River](/source/Indus_River). The old caravan route between Leh and Yarkand passed through the Depsang Plains crossing the Chip Chap River. [Daulat Beg Oldi](/source/Daulat_Beg_Oldi) on the northern bank of the river *en route* to the [Karakoram Pass](/source/Karakoram_Pass) used to be a regular halting place. Although the trading caravans came to an end in the 1950s, the route continues to be a popular trekking trail.[3][4] ## Course Depsang Plains (Survey of India, 1916) The upper course of the Chip Chap River in [Aksai Chin](/source/Aksai_Chin) ([AMS](/source/Army_Map_Service), 1950) The main stream of the Chip Chap River flows westwards along the northern edge of the [Depsang Plains](/source/Depsang_Plains). The upper course of the river is in a relatively flat area with a drop of only 190 metres over 30 km. Several mountain streams from the south drain into the relatively stagnant pool of water in this area. Near [Tianwendian](/source/Tianwendian) more streams from the Depsang Plains join the river, bringing in water from the high mountains of [Karakoram](/source/Karakoram) range to the west. Near the [Line of Actual Control](/source/Line_of_Actual_Control) that separates the Indian- and Chinese-controlled portions of Depsang Plains, the Lungnak Lungpa stream joins from north. Another stream passing by [Daulat Beg Oldi](/source/Daulat_Beg_Oldi) joins the river in the Indian controlled area. The combined river joins the [Shyok](/source/Shyok_River) at an elevation of 4800 m. The 1899 British offer to China for the border in Aksai Chin (the [Macartney–MacDonald Line](/source/Macartney%E2%80%93MacDonald_Line)) placed the entire course of the Chip Chap River in the Indian territory.[5] The [1956 claim line](/source/Sino-Indian_border_dispute#Aksai_Chin) of China also did the same.[6][7] But by 1960, China advanced its claim line to include a major portion of the Chip Chap River, coming within 4 miles of Daulat Beg Oldi.[8][9] ## Sino-Indian border dispute 30km 19miles Galwan River Karakash River Qizil Langar Daulat Beg Oldi Karakoram Pass Tianwendian Source of Chip Chap Shyok River Chip Chap River and surroundings The Chip Chap River valley played a key role in the evolution of the border conflict between China and India in 1961–62. In September 1961 India discovered that China had established a military post in the Chip Chap valley four miles east of the Indian post at [Daulat Beg Oldi](/source/Daulat_Beg_Oldi). China had also constructed a motorable road leading to the post. Finally, the Chinese troops attempted to capture an Indian patrol in the area. India concluded that China was attempting to extend its control to its 1960 claim line.[8][9] In response, the Indian government evolved a policy that came to be called the 'forward policy'. The government directed the Indian army to patrol as far towards the international border as possible, asking it to establish posts so as to prevent the Chinese from advancing any further west.[10] In March–April 1962, the Indian army created posts in the Chip Chap valley as well as [Depsang Plains](/source/Depsang_Plains) to prevent Chinese incursions.[11][12] In May 1962 a stand-off occurred as the Chinese troops moved toward an Indian post, giving every indication of intending to attack. The Indian army asked if it should withdraw, but Prime Minister [Jawaharlal Nehru](/source/Jawaharlal_Nehru) asked it to hold firm and not submit to the threat of force. The Chinese troops eventually withdrew.[13] Following a similar standoff in the [Galwan](/source/Galwan_River) valley, the commanders in Ladakh were authorised to fire on Chinese if they came too close.[14] This happened in September 1962. When the Chinese troops came close to one of the Indian posts, the Indians opened fire at "point-blank range", killing several men. The Indian government arranged for the bodies to be returned to the Chinese without generating any publicity.[15][16] This was perhaps the last major clash before the breakout of open hostilities on 20 October, after which all the Indian posts were attacked with major force and neutralised. By the end of the [Sino-Indian War](/source/Sino-Indian_War) of 1962, the Chinese forces had occupied all the territory up to their 1960 claim line.[17][b] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** The original Yarkandi name was "Chipchak" river. The [Ladakhi](/source/Ladakhi_language) name is **Tsaka Chu** (salty river). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Mohan Guruswamy has claimed that the Chinese had occupied the area in early 1950s.[18] This is not corroborated by scholarly sources. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Kapadia, Harish](/source/Harish_Kapadia) (1999). [*Across peaks & passes in Ladakh, Zanskar & East Karakoram*](https://books.google.com/books?id=pl5qHu_K45kC&pg=PA229). New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company. p. 229. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [8173871000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/8173871000). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kapadia, Harish (1990–91). ["Lots in a name"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230953/https://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/lots-in-a-name/). *Himalayan Journal*. The Himalayan Club. Archived from [the original](http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/lots-in-a-name/) on 2 December 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Himalayan Camping, Murgo to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO)](http://himalayancamping.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=231) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Himalayan Camping, Karakoram Pass Part III](http://himalayancamping.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=226) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb,_Sino-Indian_Border_in_Ladakh1973pp. 108–109,_map_19_6-0)** [Lamb, Sino-Indian Border in Ladakh (1973)](#CITEREFLamb,_Sino-Indian_Border_in_Ladakh1973), pp. 108–109, map 19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-CIA_claim_lines_7-0)** [The Sino-Indian border dispute: section 2: 1959-61](https://catalog.gpo.gov/F/?func=direct&doc_number=001086400&format=999), CIA, 1963, p. 81, map Sino-Indian Border – Chinese Claim 'Lines' of 1956 and 1960 in the Western Sector. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990p. 93,_map_5_8-0)** [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), p. 93, map 5. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis199095–96_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis199095–96_9-1) [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), pp. 95–96. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010273_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010273_10-1) [Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010)](#CITEREFRaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010), p. 273. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010275_11-0)** [Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010)](#CITEREFRaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010), p. 275. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990103_12-0)** [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), pp. 103. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010285_13-0)** [Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010)](#CITEREFRaghavan,_War_and_Peace_in_Modern_India2010), p. 285. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990104_14-0)** [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), pp. 104. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990106_15-0)** [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), pp. 106. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECheema,_Crimson_Chinar2015173_16-0)** [Cheema, Crimson Chinar (2015)](#CITEREFCheema,_Crimson_Chinar2015), p. 173. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMaxwell,_India's_China_War1970253_17-0)** [Maxwell, India's China War (1970)](#CITEREFMaxwell,_India's_China_War1970), p. 253. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis199076,_93_18-0)** [Hoffman, India and the China Crisis (1990)](#CITEREFHoffman,_India_and_the_China_Crisis1990), pp. 76, 93. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Mohan Guruswamy. ["No longer a Great Game"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071016155722/http://cpasindia.org/articles/mg-05-11-21-sino-india-relations.html). Centre for Policy Alternatives, India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. ## Bibliography - Cheema, Brig Amar (2015), [*The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc25BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51), Lancer Publishers, pp. 51–, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-81-7062-301-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-7062-301-4) - Filippi, Filippo de (1932), [*The Italian Expedition to the Himalaya, Karakoram and Eastern Turkestan (1913-1914)*](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43716/page/n7/mode/2up), London: Edward Arnold & Co. – via archive.org - Hoffmann, Steven A. (1990), [*India and the China Crisis*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BpSRwC5_EPUC), University of California Press, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-520-06537-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-06537-6) - Lamb, Alastair (1973), [*The Sino-Indian Border in Ladakh*](https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/114831/2/b10941575.pdf) (PDF), Australian National University Press - [Maxwell, Neville](/source/Neville_Maxwell) (1970), [*India's China War*](https://books.google.com/books?id=csbHAAAAIAAJ), Pantheon Books, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-394-47051-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-394-47051-1) - Raghavan, Srinath (2010), [*War and Peace in Modern India*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EbtBJb1bsHUC), Palgrave Macmillan, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-137-00737-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-137-00737-7) ## Further reading - Smith, Chris (1994), [*India's Ad Hoc Arsenal*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wirzhu5EaqAC&pg=PA75), Oxford University Press, p. 75, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-829168-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-829168-8) - Kavic, Lorne J. (1967), [*India's Quest for Security*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BnAD5RIZtF4C&pg=PA169), University of California Press, p. 169 ## External links - [Maps of Ladakh](http://bameduniya.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ladakh-changing-yet-unchanged-missing.html), Bame Duniya blogspot, 19 March 2013 [35°16′30″N 78°11′10″E / 35.275°N 78.186°E / 35.275; 78.186](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Chip_Chap_River¶ms=35.275_N_78.186_E_) v t e Union Territory of Ladakh Capital: Kargil; Leh State symbols Animal: Snow leopard Bird: Black-necked crane History Pre-Independent India Maryul Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal war Treaty of Tingmosgang Dogra–Tibetan War Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir Post-Independent India 1947–1948 India-Pakistan War 1948 military operations in Ladakh 1971 battle of Turtuk 2010 Ladakh floods 2019 Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reorganisation Conflicts Demchok conflict India–China conflict India–Pakistan conflict Kashmir conflict Siachen conflict Administration Districts Politics of Ladakh Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh Ladakh Police Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency Jammu and Kashmir High Court Lieutenant Governors Ladakh (Lok Sabha constituency) Geography General Four types of Himalayan ranges Geology of the Himalaya Ranges Baltoro Muztagh Ladakh Range Saltoro Mountains Zanskar Range Kailash Range Plateau Depsang Plains More plains Sirijap Teram Shehr Plateau Valleys Leh Rupshu Salt Valley Mushkoh Valley Padum Shyok Suru Valley Nubra Zanskar Aryan valley Glaciers Chumik Glacier Drang-Drung Glacier Machoi Glacier Parkachik Glacier Shafat Glacier Siachen Glacier Lakes Tso Moriri Pangong Tso Rivers Sutlej Beas Ravi Shyok Chenab Drass River Indus Zanskar Tsarap Doda Yapola Suru River Markha Galwan Chip Chap Passes Bilafond La Chang la Fotu La Gyong La Indira Col Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Lachulung La Taglang La Marsimik La Namika La Pensi La Rezang La Rimo Sasser Pass Sia La Shingo La Spanggur Gap Zoji La Mountain peaks Bana Top Chumik Kangri Ghent Kangri Gurung Hill India Saddle K12 Saltoro Kangri Sherpi Kangri Tiger Saddle Human settlements Meenamarg Burtse Chalunka Chemrey Chushul Daulat Beg Oldi Demchok Diskit Dras Dzingrulma Fukche Hemis Hanle Kargil Khalatse Leh Likir Murgo Nimo Nyoma Padum Panamik Purne Rangdum Sankoo Sasoma Shey Shyok Thiksey Thoise Turtuk Ukdungle Upshi Zangla Culture General Music of Ladakh Languages Ladakhi Purgi Balti Zangskari Changthang Brokskat Festivals Bono-na festival Tourism and wildlife Wildlife Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary Hemis National Park Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary Tourism Khurnak Fort Ladakh Marathon Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Siachen Base Camp Indo-Tibetan Buddhist monasteries Alchi Bardan Basgo Chemrey Diskit Hanle Hemis Hundur Korzok Karsha Lamayuru Likir Lingshed Mashro/Matho Monastery Mulbekh Namgyal Tsemo Phugtal Phyang Rangdum Rizong Sani Sankar Saspul Shey Monastery Spituk Stakna Stok Stongdey Takthok Thikse Tserkarmo Tonde Wanla Zangla Zongkul Transport Airports Kargil Airport Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (Leh) Military AGLs Roads Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road India-China Border Roads Leh–Manali Highway NH1 Leh–Kargil–Srinagar Highway Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road (under construction) Sasoma–Saser La Road Railway Bhanupli–Leh line (planned) Srinagar–Leh line (planned) Infrastructure General Indian Astronomical Observatory Dams and hydroelectric project Chutak Dumkhar Salal Education Central Institute of Buddhist Studies Defence Institute of High Altitude Research Druk White Lotus School Government Degree College, Kargil Phuktal Monastic School Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh University of Ladakh See also Borders Line of Actual Control Line of Control Actual Ground Position Line Other Curious BRO roadsigns --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chip Chap River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Chap_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Chap_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.