06-22-2020, 04:27 PM
** 22-Jun-2020 World View: The explosive Ladakh situation
I didn't ignore the issue of Chinese casualties. In one article I
wrote "According to some reports, about 40 Chinese soldiers were
killed." In another article I quoted Modi as saying, "Twenty of our
bravehearts were martyred in Ladakh but not before they taught a
lesson to those who raised an eye at Bharat Mata." So the Indian
public has been made aware of Chinese casualties.
However, what's animating the anti-China protests in India is the
photo of those horrific, barbaric weapons used by Chinese soldiers --
iron bars studded with steel nails, used as weapons against unarmed
Indian soldiers.
![[Image: g200619b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g200619b.jpg)
In 2017, I wrote about another border conflict, on Bhutan's Doklam
Plateau. There were clashes at that time, but it was almost humorous
that the attacks were of Indian and Chinese soldiers bumping each
other with their chests to push each other back.
So to say that this situation is significantly different from the last
one and far more dangerous is not an overstatement. By decades-old
agreement, neither side was armed, meaning that neither side had guns.
But the Chinese used a loophole to get around the agreement by using
these barbaric weapons, which goes well beyond chest-bumping. It's
this Chinese action that has shocked the Indian public, not some
mindless "fearmongering."
What's very interesting to me is that neither side has yet issued an
official statement on what happened. I would have thought that by
this time, over a week later, we'd have more to go on than uncomfirmed
reports. It seems clear to me that both the Indian and Chinese
governments are trying to control public opinion and the xenophobia
being exhibited on both sides, because neither side (officially) wants
a war. A war would quickly expand to an India-Pakistan war, and to an
India-China naval war in the Indian Ocean.
The international community is also well aware of the explosive nature
of the Ladakh situation. Trump has offered to mediate, and the
Russians are meeting with both sides as well. So there's a lot of
pressure on the top-line political leaders to reach a negotiated
settlement, but the question then is whether the Chinese and Indian
people will accept whatever settlement is agreed, without demanding
further revenge.
(06-20-2020, 12:22 PM)John J. Xenakis Wrote: > Unconfirmed reports claim that Chinese soldiers crossed into
> Indian territory and unarmed Indian soldiers with barbaric
> weapons, including iron rod studded with steel nails, killing
> 20.
(06-22-2020, 01:28 PM)Warren Dew Wrote: > Unconfirmed reports also say 34 Chinese soldiers were killed,
> which is likely true given China never confirms casualties. his
> isn't hatred of Chinese toward Indians, but rather fearmongering
> toward Chinese by Indians and others.
> That said, I recognize that the perception is what matters here,
> not the reality.
I didn't ignore the issue of Chinese casualties. In one article I
wrote "According to some reports, about 40 Chinese soldiers were
killed." In another article I quoted Modi as saying, "Twenty of our
bravehearts were martyred in Ladakh but not before they taught a
lesson to those who raised an eye at Bharat Mata." So the Indian
public has been made aware of Chinese casualties.
However, what's animating the anti-China protests in India is the
photo of those horrific, barbaric weapons used by Chinese soldiers --
iron bars studded with steel nails, used as weapons against unarmed
Indian soldiers.
- Iron rods studded with steel nails, used by Chinese soldiers
to kill Indian soldiers
In 2017, I wrote about another border conflict, on Bhutan's Doklam
Plateau. There were clashes at that time, but it was almost humorous
that the attacks were of Indian and Chinese soldiers bumping each
other with their chests to push each other back.
So to say that this situation is significantly different from the last
one and far more dangerous is not an overstatement. By decades-old
agreement, neither side was armed, meaning that neither side had guns.
But the Chinese used a loophole to get around the agreement by using
these barbaric weapons, which goes well beyond chest-bumping. It's
this Chinese action that has shocked the Indian public, not some
mindless "fearmongering."
What's very interesting to me is that neither side has yet issued an
official statement on what happened. I would have thought that by
this time, over a week later, we'd have more to go on than uncomfirmed
reports. It seems clear to me that both the Indian and Chinese
governments are trying to control public opinion and the xenophobia
being exhibited on both sides, because neither side (officially) wants
a war. A war would quickly expand to an India-Pakistan war, and to an
India-China naval war in the Indian Ocean.
The international community is also well aware of the explosive nature
of the Ladakh situation. Trump has offered to mediate, and the
Russians are meeting with both sides as well. So there's a lot of
pressure on the top-line political leaders to reach a negotiated
settlement, but the question then is whether the Chinese and Indian
people will accept whatever settlement is agreed, without demanding
further revenge.
