China’s Military Drill in Tibet a Warning to India: Experts

Epoch Times ^ | 09/08/2021 | I.M. Phelps

[SeekAndFind]

The Chinese regime’s recent show of military strength in Tibet was an attempt to intimidate neighboring India amid heightened tensions, according to two former high-ranking military officers. But New Delhi remains confident it is a formidable opponent to Beijing, they said.

At the end of August, large-scale joint exercises were conducted by the People Liberation Army’s (PLA) Tibet Military Command (TMC). At least 10 brigades and regiments affiliated with the PLA took part in the exercises near India’s northeastern border. The exercises were akin to last month’s naval and air force assault drills carried out by the PLA near Taiwan’s southern coast.

This week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping promoted Wang Haijiang, a senior PLA officer, to a general and head of the Western Theatre Command. He is now in charge of overseeing the disputed India-China border.

In carrying out these drills near the border with India, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is giving the appearance of taking a tough stance against India, as it prepares itself for a potential showdown against the South Asian country in the future, retired Lt. Gen. J.S. Bajwa told The Epoch Times.

Given that the training exercises were held at the high elevations of Tibet—nearly 14,700 feet (4,500 meters) above sea level—the former chief of staff, eastern command and director-general of infantry in the Indian Army said this provided the cold weather and altitude training necessary to test the performance of the military, equipment, and munitions of the PLA.

Bajwa said it is unlikely that the CCP would permanently capture any territory beyond the Tibet autonomous region, but suggested the regime is only attempting to uphold the appearance of being a formidable force.

[Army Air Corps]

Pei-Ping!

[allendale]

Very much doubt China would but if they do actually invade Taiwan, they are making it very clear that if India tries to take advantage and attempts to reclaim the lands they lost in 1962, India will be severely punished.

[Don W]

How ridiculous. The last time the Chinese and the Indians had a spat, the Indian fists put paid to the Chinese aggressors. In a fist fight. In the contested zone. Only a few months ago. Really. Fist fights.

[Williams]

I think we need to reevaluate what’s going on with China. They are regressing economically and politically, they’re returning to a thug approach, and they are under internal pressure to flex their military muscles.

They present great danger but I also get the impression they are about to get themselves into a mess.

China is simultaneously threatening: India, the US, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, NATO, Phillipines, and others. That’s a ridiculous foreign or military policy.

[laplata]

Good post; China is getting too uppity, over confident and arrogant and over extending it’s self.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

I remember that!

The Indian special forces made mincemeat out of the Chinese troops.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Yet another reason America should have kept Bagram.

[BroJoeK]

Allendale: "If India...attempts to reclaim the lands they lost in 1962, India will be severely punished."

"Severely punished"??
Who talks like that? A Chi-Com agent would.

I remember it -- in 1962 heavily outnumbered Indian forces were defeated by Chi-Com human waves, over the Dalai Lama and a disputed border line.
Since then both sides have upgraded their militaries and Chi-Coms continue to probe & provoke along the border.
They also support Pakistan's claims against India.

So traditionally, India allied with Russia against China & Pakistan, though in recent years Indians have become friendlier with Americans.
If the Chi-Coms start a new war against India, China will be, ahem, severely punished by finding yet another staunch American ally helping to surround them.

Why-ever would Chi-Coms do that, except in some sort of desperation?

[Steely Tom]

A Chinese person I know — now an American citizen and a strong Conservative — said that the origins of the tension between India and China involves India's fear that China will divert water from an important river that flows out of Tibet into India. If China interferes with this water supply, it would have a severe impact on the Indian economy.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Vaduz]

Xi is playing with a very short fuse with India other tribes gather.

[cold start]

A Chinese person I know — now an American citizen and a strong Conservative — said that the origins of the tension between India and China involves India's fear that China will divert water from an important river that flows out of Tibet into India. If China interferes with this water supply, it would have a severe impact on the Indian economy

Probably talking about the Bramhaputra river in India's east but he's mistaken. Even though it has its origins in Tibet, most of its water comes from within India and its unlikely to cause too much of a problem. Nor is the assertion that it will have a severe impact on india's economy true (even if the Chinese could interfere with the supply) since the river flows through areas of India's northeast which is a comparitively low economic activity area.

India's tensions with China are related to Chinese border claims. For years, India has been careful to not antagonize China and try znd work with it. The events of the last year and a half has ended that experiment, the results now being a massive military mobilization on the China border. The Chinese have had to spend the last year mobilized on the high himalayas which they, unlike Indian troops have had no real experience of. It looks that going forward, that will be the normal and unless there is a climb down by China, they will stay mobilized throughout the year in very tough conditions.