CHINA / DIPLOMACY
Tibetology courses offered to Indian troops, reflecting India's intention to station troops in disputed areas in the long term: analysts
Published: Oct 19, 2021 11:40 PM
Illustration: GT

Illustration: GT


The measure to train Indian soldiers on Tibetology, exposed India's plans to station troops in the disputed border area in the long term, analysts said after media reported that Indian soldiers posted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are being trained in Tibetan culture, language, history and topography to enhance India's soft power and help "develop informed military strategies for the region."

The news was published by Indian media outlet News18, saying that "for senior Army officers, a better understanding of the region [Zangnan, the southern part of China's Xizang] would help make intelligence gathering easier and also aid in carrying out other operations tailored to the region's population."

The course is aimed at educating army personnel about Xizang's (Tibet) demography and internal dynamics, its history, geography, language, and art and culture through classes, guest lectures as well as movies and book reviews, reported News18. 

"Understanding Tibetan population, their traditions, cultural peculiarities and the political influence in the region empowers our officers to understand what we are getting into and where we are operating," a senior Indian army officer told News18.

This is not the first time an India media reveals that army personnel are required to learn Tibetology. In January this year, Times of India reported that the Indian army is encouraging its officers to study Tibetan history, culture and language on "both sides" of the LAC and the international boundary as part of the measures being discussed to "counter the propaganda and spread of influence by China."

"It is not strange for Indian soldiers to learn Tibetology," Qian Feng, Director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times, noting that this reflected the Indian military's intention of long-term positioning of troops at the disputed border area and keep in constant alert over China.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command last week issued a rare harsh statement blaming India for making unreasonable and unrealistic demands that added difficulties to the border talks between the two countries.

Qian pointed out that the situation on the western border of the LAC is under control since the disengagement in locations such as the Pangong Lake earlier this year. Yet, India needs to have a clear picture of the situation and refrain from taking provocative actions. "If India can do that, the situation will be kept under control," said Qian, warning India to abandon its unrealistic illusion or more risks will arise in the border area. 

After China issued the statement, Indian media reported that in the western section of China-India border, where the standoff has been going on for 17 months, between 50,000 and 60,000 Indian troops will suffer "another bitter winter" in those altitudes with temperatures of minus 30 C.

Qian warned that China has made quite clear its attitude of safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and if India fails to learn the lesson this time or scale down its aggressive behavior, China will fight until the end.