Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Vikas Battalion and Election Day
The last several months have seen rising tension between India and the PRC over their disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. In June, during an attempted “de-escalation,” there was an incident in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. Just Monday, reports came out of a counter-offensive from the Indian Army, sending their Special Frontier Forces, the Vikas Battalion, to capture important strategic high ground in the dispute.
The use of SFF was deliberate by the Indian Army. SFF was formed in 1962 of Tibetan soldiers whose mission was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines. Today, Vikas Battalion is composed of mostly Tibetan and Gorkha soldiers. Tibetans have no reason to love the People’s Liberation Army, and of Gorkhas it was once said, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gorkha.”
The Red Chinese claim that they have never violated any border in an aggressive manner, which in their minds is true because when they have a problem with the border, they simply move the border (see the South China Sea and the Nine-Dash Line) and then accuse others of violating it.
In related news, the Times of India is reporting that the Chinese navy is the biggest in the world, and is eyeing naval bases in Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
Here’s a video from China Uncensored regarding the affair.
Trump-Pence 2020!
Published in General
I think it is interesting that the two sides have agreed not to use firearms or blade weapons in the disputed area. Thus you have attacks with clubs and rocks. It is a wild dispute.
Interesting, if your British they are the Gurkhas, and if they are in the Indian Army they are Gorhkhas.