Secret Tibetan Military Force Raises Stakes in India-China
Clash
Clash
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Archana Chaudhary
September 15, 2020, 10:00 PM GMT+1 Updated on September 16,
2020, 5:19 AM GMT+1
2020, 5:19 AM GMT+1
Top Modi aide
attended funeral of Tibetan killed along border
attended funeral of Tibetan killed along border
‘The Indians are
sending a message -- a very strong message’
sending a message -- a very strong message’
Indian troops pay respects to their fallen comrade,
Tibetan-origin special forces soldier Nyima Tenzin in Leh on Sept. 7.
Tibetan-origin special forces soldier Nyima Tenzin in Leh on Sept. 7.
At a funeral last week in the mountains of northern India,
one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top aides paid respect to a Tibetan
soldier killed on the front lines of deadly clashes with China.
one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top aides paid respect to a Tibetan
soldier killed on the front lines of deadly clashes with China.
Surrounded by troops waving the flags of both India and
Tibet, Ram Madhav laid a wreath before the coffin during a ceremony that gave
the deceased man full military honors. In a now-deleted tweet, the national
general secretary of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said he hoped the
soldier’s death would lead to peace along the “Indo-Tibetan border.”
Tibet, Ram Madhav laid a wreath before the coffin during a ceremony that gave
the deceased man full military honors. In a now-deleted tweet, the national
general secretary of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said he hoped the
soldier’s death would lead to peace along the “Indo-Tibetan border.”
The rare recognition of a secretive Indian military unit
with Tibetan soldiers by itself threatened to escalate a border dispute that
has killed dozens since May and tanked economic ties between the world’s
most-populous nations. Even more significant was the suggestion that India questioned China’s sovereignty over Tibet
-- a red line for Beijing, which sees separatism as a cause also worth fighting
for in places from Xinjiang to Hong Kong to Taiwan.
with Tibetan soldiers by itself threatened to escalate a border dispute that
has killed dozens since May and tanked economic ties between the world’s
most-populous nations. Even more significant was the suggestion that India questioned China’s sovereignty over Tibet
-- a red line for Beijing, which sees separatism as a cause also worth fighting
for in places from Xinjiang to Hong Kong to Taiwan.
“The Indians are sending a message -- a very strong message,
which they probably have not sent for decades,” said Robbie Barnett, who headed
Columbia University’s Modern Tibetan Studies Program until 2018 and has written
about the region since the 1980s. “The involvement of exiled Tibetans and
the use of exiled Tibetan icons, images and flags, is hugely significant for
China’s interpretation.”
which they probably have not sent for decades,” said Robbie Barnett, who headed
Columbia University’s Modern Tibetan Studies Program until 2018 and has written
about the region since the 1980s. “The involvement of exiled Tibetans and
the use of exiled Tibetan icons, images and flags, is hugely significant for
China’s interpretation.”
Tensions High
While India and China’s foreign ministers agreed on the need
for restraint during a meeting in Moscow last week, tensions along the border
remain higher than at any point since hostilities resumed. Both sides continue
to ramp up forces in the disputed area, which is key to controlling vital
Himalayan mountain passes, with warning shots fired this month along the Line
of Actual Control for the first time in more than four decades.
for restraint during a meeting in Moscow last week, tensions along the border
remain higher than at any point since hostilities resumed. Both sides continue
to ramp up forces in the disputed area, which is key to controlling vital
Himalayan mountain passes, with warning shots fired this month along the Line
of Actual Control for the first time in more than four decades.
In the past few weeks China moved fighter planes and heavy
bombers to the Indian frontier from the Central Theater Command, Beijing’s
strategic reserve, which wasn’t done even when the two sides went to war in
1962, according to Indian defense officials, who asked not to be identified due
to rules for speaking with the media. China’s defense ministry didn’t reply to
faxed questions.
bombers to the Indian frontier from the Central Theater Command, Beijing’s
strategic reserve, which wasn’t done even when the two sides went to war in
1962, according to Indian defense officials, who asked not to be identified due
to rules for speaking with the media. China’s defense ministry didn’t reply to
faxed questions.
While neither country has an incentive to go to war, the
increasing intensity and persistence of friction may cause them to stumble into one, according to Vipin Narang, an
associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. Eurasia Group last week raised the probability that boundary
skirmishes may lead to a more sustained military conflict to 15%.
increasing intensity and persistence of friction may cause them to stumble into one, according to Vipin Narang, an
associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. Eurasia Group last week raised the probability that boundary
skirmishes may lead to a more sustained military conflict to 15%.
“An advertent or inadvertent incident at a local flash point
could now really fuel a broader conflict that neither government wants,” said
Narang, who wrote a book about the deterrence strategies of regional nuclear
powers.
could now really fuel a broader conflict that neither government wants,” said
Narang, who wrote a book about the deterrence strategies of regional nuclear
powers.
Dalai Lama
Tibet, an area roughly the size of South Africa that
stretches across the Himalayas, has been a point of contention in India’s
relations with China ever since the Dalai Lama fled to the South Asian nation
after a failed uprising in 1959. He set up a government-in-exile in the
northern Indian town of Dharamshala, much to Beijing’s displeasure. India only
recognized Tibet as part of China in 2003.
stretches across the Himalayas, has been a point of contention in India’s
relations with China ever since the Dalai Lama fled to the South Asian nation
after a failed uprising in 1959. He set up a government-in-exile in the
northern Indian town of Dharamshala, much to Beijing’s displeasure. India only
recognized Tibet as part of China in 2003.
India first established the military unit of Tibetan
refugees, known as the Special Frontier Force, just after the 1962 India-China
war to carry out covert operations behind Chinese lines, according to Jayadeva
Ranade, a member of the National Security Council Advisory Board. Akin to U.S.
special forces, every member is trained as a para-commando and operates
undercover in conjunction with the Indian military.
refugees, known as the Special Frontier Force, just after the 1962 India-China
war to carry out covert operations behind Chinese lines, according to Jayadeva
Ranade, a member of the National Security Council Advisory Board. Akin to U.S.
special forces, every member is trained as a para-commando and operates
undercover in conjunction with the Indian military.
“The recognition is a
clear message to China that your countrymen are fighting alongside us,”
said Ranade, who heads the Centre of China Analysis and Strategy, a research
group in New Delhi. “I don’t remember this force being acknowledged like this
earlier.”
clear message to China that your countrymen are fighting alongside us,”
said Ranade, who heads the Centre of China Analysis and Strategy, a research
group in New Delhi. “I don’t remember this force being acknowledged like this
earlier.”
The Special Frontier Force participated in a nighttime raid
last month to capture strategic high ground and remain on the front lines,
according to the Indian defense officials who asked not to be identified.
last month to capture strategic high ground and remain on the front lines,
according to the Indian defense officials who asked not to be identified.
Still, both India and China are seeking to downplay the
significance of the Tibetan soldiers.
significance of the Tibetan soldiers.
Indian Army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand declined to
respond to questions about the unit, but said the military was committed to
maintaining peace and tranquility while also protecting national integrity and
sovereignty at all costs. The foreign ministry didn’t reply to a request
seeking a comment.
respond to questions about the unit, but said the military was committed to
maintaining peace and tranquility while also protecting national integrity and
sovereignty at all costs. The foreign ministry didn’t reply to a request
seeking a comment.
China Drills
China has downplayed reports of the Tibetans, with foreign
ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling reporters on Monday to ask India about
the issue.
ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling reporters on Monday to ask India about
the issue.
“China’s position is clear,” he said. “We firmly oppose any
country facilitating through any means the ‘Tibetan independence’ forces’
separatist activities.”
country facilitating through any means the ‘Tibetan independence’ forces’
separatist activities.”
While the government has avoided inflaming the situation,
China’s state-owned media has released footage over the past week of live-fire
military exercises in Tibet involving tanks, fighter jets and even drones that
could bring food to soldiers during the long winter expected to start soon.
China’s state-owned media has released footage over the past week of live-fire
military exercises in Tibet involving tanks, fighter jets and even drones that
could bring food to soldiers during the long winter expected to start soon.
The PLA on Wed released a video of Tibet military command’s
live-fire drill on the plateau. PLA also conducted a drill of airborne troops.
Yes, these are all aimed at the situation on China-India border. The Indian
army will either stop provoking or be prepared to be defeated.
pic.twitter.com/124h0ccu8h
live-fire drill on the plateau. PLA also conducted a drill of airborne troops.
Yes, these are all aimed at the situation on China-India border. The Indian
army will either stop provoking or be prepared to be defeated.
pic.twitter.com/124h0ccu8h
The coffin of Nyima Tenzin, the Tibetan soldier who died,
was draped with the flags of India and Tibet. Madhav, the BJP official who
attended, understood the significance: He wrote a book released in 2014 about
the conflict called “Uneasy Neighbours: India and China After 50 years of the
War.” Madhav didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on why he
deleted his tweet.
was draped with the flags of India and Tibet. Madhav, the BJP official who
attended, understood the significance: He wrote a book released in 2014 about
the conflict called “Uneasy Neighbours: India and China After 50 years of the
War.” Madhav didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on why he
deleted his tweet.
Even though the Indian government hasn’t officially
acknowledged the Tibetan forces, Tenzin’s public funeral and the attendance by
Madhav has roused support for the unit with the Tibetan exile community,
according to Gonpo Dhundup, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, a body
that has more 30,000 members and is fighting for the region’s freedom.
acknowledged the Tibetan forces, Tenzin’s public funeral and the attendance by
Madhav has roused support for the unit with the Tibetan exile community,
according to Gonpo Dhundup, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, a body
that has more 30,000 members and is fighting for the region’s freedom.
“I strongly feel that younger generation will join the SFF
in larger numbers,” Dhundup said by phone from McLeod Ganj outside Dharamshala.
“The acknowledgment, no matter how brief, has sent out a message that our
contribution will be recognized.”
in larger numbers,” Dhundup said by phone from McLeod Ganj outside Dharamshala.
“The acknowledgment, no matter how brief, has sent out a message that our
contribution will be recognized.”
— With assistance by Colum Murphy, and Jing Li
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