China is preparing for an all-out war with India. As a first step towards making China pay a price for her misdeeds, India must recognise Tibet as an independent state that has been occupied by China. – Col. Vinayak Bhat
China is the only country that has expanded its borders in the 21st century. Her armed forces called the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are further claiming and forcibly occupying territories belonging to neighbours since the past eight decades.
Analysing the PLA behaviour over these eight decades, especially in the occupied territories of Tibet and East Turkestan, the ‘PLA’ sounds like an oxymoron. Their actions are neither for the people nor for liberation. The PLA’s recent belligerent and aggressive occupation of Indian territories, beyond even their own claim line, are examples enough to understand the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) expansionist era has just begun.
Recent Chinese occupation of Indian areas in Eastern Ladakh at most places even beyond their claimed line suggests that the PLA intends to teach India a lesson for claiming Indian areas presently under Chinese occupation. Military-level talks have failed to yield any positive results as Chinese PLA refuses to disengage at Pangong Tso and de-escalate at other places. Many experts even indicate that China is possibly preparing for an all-out war with India. As a first step towards making China pay a heavy price for her misdeeds, India must recognise Tibet as an independent state that has been occupied by China.
Desecration of Hindu religious places
The Chinese have controlled Tibetan and East Turkestan population by subjugating them with religious atrocities.
The Chinese pushing Han population into these areas and plundering the rich gompas and monasteries is not new. The recent satellite images have clearly indicated that China—scared of Indian use of its air force across the Himalayas—has started constructing surface to air missiles (SAM) locations ready for deployment within days. This time Beijing has crossed the red line by deploying SAM at the northeastern corner of Manasarovar—barely a km from it. Surprisingly, this SAM location does not have any assets to defend. The aim is to hit India where it hurts the most. It can only be done by PLA creating a new battlefield at the feet of Lord Shiva’s abode, the Mt Kailash.
China’s preparations for war
The Chinese PLA has been preparing for an all-out war encompassing entire India. China has moved in more than four Group Army (GA) worth troops all along India’s borders especially around Eastern Ladakh. Although disengagement has taken place at three of the four places of incursions, the PLA is not budging from Finger 4 area of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh. The de-escalation has not taken place at any of the locations and both countries obviously are locked in a standoff despite Chinese promises to the contrary during military commander level talks.
China’s PLA has hastened the ship constructions at most of the naval shipyards. The two Type-75 landing helicopter dock (LHD), third aircraft carrier, and many Type-52s and Type-55s in various stages of production are being speeded up. The recent exercises with civil ships taken up from trade (STUFT), including the one being used as an LHD, Zhenhua-28 carrying PLAGF helicopters, Z-8 transporters and Z-19 attack helicopters indicate preparations for a sea assault base. The PLAAF deployment of H-6 bombers and J-20 stealth aircraft very close to Indian borders are also clear battle indications of Chinese preparations for war.
War not an option for India
A war with China at this stage of the economic unsettlement due to the pandemic does not suit India. Though the Indian armed forces are modern and strong, a war effort would throw the country back by several decades in every sphere. On the other hand, China gains the most-wanted experience for its armed forces, especially their air and naval forces that have not seen action ever since raising. China also gets a chance to try and test their new weapon systems and missiles against a strong and well-equipped army. It would be a precursor for preparations against the USA, which it plans to confront sooner or later in the South China Sea, while undertaking ‘peaceful’ reunification of Taiwan.
Hence India needs to avoid an all-out war by having brief yet intense skirmishes and fan out its options to get out of this quandary. India must delve deeper into out-of-the-box options that are within the international community’s powers to support us very strongly to gain ascendency over China morally.
Indian areas under Chinese occupation to be freed
Many Indian territories like Eastern Ladakh’s Aksai Chin were occupied by China in the 1950s and must rightfully be claimed by India. The Indian government must ask for all the Indian areas under Chinese occupation, including Eastern Ladakh, Shaksgam Valley and Kailash Manasarovar through proper diplomatic channels. The land records and economic taxation records could be provided, only if caught, by Chinese authorities. India must also file this case in international courts for returning all Indian territories, including Sharsingma (Yadong) valley, Tsona and parts of East Turkestan, based on the Ardagh-Johnson Line.
Declare Tibet independent
India must seize this chance to bail Tibet out of China’s clutches. Tibet has a written history of over 2,150 years when China has never ruled over them. The aim of providing shelter to HH the Dalai Lama and Tibetan community in India was to ensure their freedom at the earliest. India must recognise Tibet, including the Tibet Autonomous Prefectures (TAPs), as a sovereign and independent state that is now occupied by China. India must ask the international community to follow suit in this regard, to ensure Tibet is liberated at the earliest. This is the opportunity that India cannot afford to lose. – Daily-O, 27 August 2020
› Col Vinayak Bhat (Retd) served in the Indian Army for over 33 years. He is a satellite imagery specialist and OSINT consultant in Kolkata.
Filed under: china, east turkestan, india, tibet | Tagged: chinese imperialism, chinese invasion of tibet, india-china border dispute, pangong tso, tibetan nationalism |
BHARATA BHARATI 
China desecrates religious sites near Mt Kailash to deploy surface-to-air missiles – Col Vinayak Bhat – India Today – 22 August 2020
China’s enhancement of military facilities near Mt Kailash includes deployment of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) with fresh constructions that started in April this year being completed now, satellite images show.
Not being spared are religious sites, as satellite images show how Kailash Manasarovar, a place of religious importance to Hindus who travel for pilgrimage, now resembles a battle zone with heavy military presence.
The heavy militarisation of the religious site comes amid Indo-China tussle in Ladakh and coincides with India’s road construction to Lipulekh at the India-China-Nepal tri-junction that sparked a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Kathmandu. Nepal claimed that India’s road construction was in disputed territory between the two countries.
The 80-km strategic road at 17,000 ft would make the journey to Kailash Mansarovar shorter and smoother. Mt Kailash and many areas along Manasarovar, including Rakshastal and Gauri Kund, are revered places in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Latest satellite images from August 16 indicate that it is a surface-to-air missile site with possible HQ-9 SAM system under tarpaulin covers. The deployment pattern shows four platforms for either four or eight SAM transporter erector launchers (TELs) with three radar ramps.
There is a separate place in this facility for deployment of three more radars. The raised ramps clearly indicate their purpose for deployment of vehicle-based radars. The HQ-9 system depends on HT-233 radar for fire control, and on Type 305B, Type 120, Type 305A, YLC-20 and DWL-002 radars to search and track targets.
The entire facility suggests PLAAF’s heavy dependence on radars for search and tracking aerial threats.
This SAM location is exactly 90 kms from Indian borders, suggesting that medium-range SAMs could also be deployed there, if required. PLA had a small detachment earlier supposedly prepared for the convenience and security of pilgrims visiting Mt Kailash.
It used to be manned by a section of People’s Armed Police but now turned into a garrison with many hotels and houses built around it, and manned by the PLA. In the name of infrastructure development, houses of Tibetans are being taken over, razed to ground and new hotels are being constructed.
The last three months have seen new constructions coming up about a kilometre east of the highway. The construction at this site started on April 11 and has been completed this week.
Controlling Kailash Manasarovar
India has controlled these areas and collected taxes from villages here till the late 1950s. During the campaign in Tibet, China also grabbed the areas of Mt Kailash, Manasarovar and Eastern Ladakh.
China has been trying to control the access of Indians to Mt Kailash and Manasarovar since a long time by opening and closing various routes under different reasons. The easiest access from Nathula and Demchok were always stopped whereas the most difficult route via Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand was kept open most of the year.
Desecration of Manasarovar
The Manasarovar and Rakshastal are part of the parikrama of Mt Kailash.
China released two videos of tanks rolling over the road near Mansarovar in the month of May and June to show their deployment in occupied territories of Tibet and India. The most surprising element in this facility is that it does not have facility that it can defend.
The obvious answer that comes to mind is that PLAAF might be trying to cover a particular path that it expects the Indian Air Force (IAF) to take during hostilities.
The IAF certainly would have taken note of this facility much before.
India should take up the matter of desecration of our religious sites so blatantly by China with her and rest of the world community.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SATELLITE IMAGES OF KAILASH MANASAROVAR AREA
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