China includes 1962 war with India in revised school syllabus

New Chinese school textbooks will cover the 1962 border conflict between China and India. The emphasis on national security and traditional culture in school syllabus is part of Beijing's latest effort to enhance ideological propaganda and control.

The revised history textbooks will cover the 1962 border conflict between China and India, which ended with India’s defeat after a month of fighting. 

Whose syllabus has been revised?

The updated textbooks will be introduced to first graders in primary and middle schools this year, with the new curriculum being phased in for all grades of the nine-year compulsory education system over the next three years.

The revision process, which began in March 2022, involved over 200 experts from universities, research institutions, and schools. The Ministry of Education (MOE) reported that the revised textbooks have been dispatched more than 550 schools, involving over 2,000 teachers and 100,000 students.

Significance of syllabus revision

The move comes amid the ongoing dispute between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control, which includes over 120,000 square kilometers (46,300 square miles) of contested territory. 

Both nations maintain substantial military presence in these areas and experienced another deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June 2020. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.

Despite numerous rounds of diplomatic and military discussions, the tension remains unresolved.

China's logic behind syllabus revision

According to a Ministry of Education official quoted in a CCTV report, the updated content aims to 'help students deeply understand that national security is a top priority and that everyone has a responsibility to protect it.'

Additionally, students will learn about the concept of 'forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation' -- a notion introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2014 to promote ethnic unity.

The subject of Morality and Law, formerly known as Ideology and Politics until 2016, continues to be mandatory and reflects the ideology of the ruling Communist Party. 

What else has been revised in the syllabus?

The new textbooks will highlight President Xi's political philosophy, known as Xi Jinping Thought, as well as traditional Chinese culture and national security.

The MOE stated that the revisions also include updates on ethics, rule of law, and new archaeological findings related to Chinese civilization. 

While the revisions have increased focus on national security and rule of law, they have also simplified Chinese language studies.