Global Times editorial warns 'Indian nationalists'

A strongly-worded editorial on Monday appeared at the Global Times - considered the Chinese government's mouthpiece - warning that if Indian soldiers "couldn't defeat Chinese in unarmed clashes, then guns and other firearms will not help them." The warning directed at "Indian nationalists" came after the Indian government changed the Rules of Engagement (RoE) allowing commanders deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to give soldiers “complete freedom of action” to handle situations at the tactical level.

Hyderabad: On a day when corps commanders of Indian and Chinese military are holding a meeting at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to discuss the ongoing dispute in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, a strongly-worded editorial on Monday appeared in the Global Times, considered to be Chinese government's mouthpiece, warning India. It stated, "I must warn Indian nationalists: If your soldiers cannot even defeat Chinese soldiers in unarmed clashes, then guns and other firearms will not help them. The reason: The military strength of China is much more advanced and stronger than that of India."

The warning directed at "Indian nationalists" came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre on Friday changed the Rules of Engagement (RoE) allowing commanders deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to give soldiers “complete freedom of action” to handle situations at the tactical level. The commanders can now use firearms and have full authority to respond to extraordinary situations using all resources at their disposal.

The decision was taken at an all-party meeting chaired by PM Modi after a violent clash at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh with the Chinese troops that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and several injured.

The Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin wrote that the development if true "violates the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control in the China-India Border Areas."

Taking a dig at India, Xijin wrote, "If India escalates the border dispute with China into skirmishes or even local wars, it would be like an egg dashing itself against a rock," while stressing that Beijing's military expenditure is over three times that of New Delhi in 2020 as it evoked the 1962 Indo-China border war.

The editorial titled "De-escalating tensions on China-India border paramount" further states that "China doesn't want to escalate conflicts with India, but we have sufficient capacity to smash any provocations from the Indian troops, " and stated that it hopes that "Indian troops can remain sober and Indian elites keep rational".

In the Monday night clash between the troops of both India and China, no weapons or arms were used. Both the troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat using stones, rods and nail-studded clubs during the fight that lasted for hours until midnight.