Tibetan troops have been recruited by the Chinese army to help them sustain themselves in high-altitude areas, according to sources. These soldiers are now visible as part of the People’s Liberation Army border defence patrols along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. After facing issues with their regular mainland troops in high altitude areas and seeing the Indian Special Frontier Force troops perform successfully during the capture of high peaks in the Kailash ranges by the Indian Army, China began recruiting these soldiers to aid their long-term deployment plans in the area.
Reports suggest that China had issued instructions to induct at least one soldier from each Tibetan family and turn them loyal towards the country, as well as keep a check on their families. While the move has seen resentment from affected families, it has enabled China to have better control in high altitude areas.
India and China have been in a military standoff in border areas since April-May 2020. Both countries have heavily deployed troops, and India has deployed almost equal numbers of personnel in the Eastern Ladakh sector to counter any potential threat by China in the future. The Indian Army has also reoriented its focus towards the northern borders and deployed new formations.
The move by China to recruit Tibetan troops has not come as a major surprise, given the long-standing tensions between the two countries. However, it has raised concerns about the potential implications for the Tibetan community, who have long sought to maintain their independence from China. The deployment of Tibetan troops as part of the Chinese army has further complicated this issue.
It remains to be seen how this development will impact the ongoing military standoff between India and China and whether it will have wider implications for the region. However, the recruitment of Tibetan troops by China is a clear indication of the rising tensions and the increasing competition between the two countries in the border areas.
