China Purchases a New Batch of Weapons Used in the Galwan Battle Amid Border Standoff | Exclusive
In the midst of the border crisis, China buys a fresh batch of the Galwan battle's armaments.
The "mixed maces," which are classified as
"cold weapons" and were used in the Galwan battle in 2020, which
claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers, have been obtained by the Chinese
Army. The sales occur when there is an impasse at the common border between the
two countries.
China has taken another action that has sparked worries while discussions between India and China about the border disengagement process continue.
Twenty Indian troops lost their lives in the 2020 Galwan
conflict as a result of the employment of "combined maces," which the
Chinese Army has acquired. Although the two nations are now engaged in a
standoff along their shared border, this acquisition raises concerns about
China's motives.
A weapon that has been modified for use in fighting by
adding spikes and jagged edges is called a combination mace. The People's
Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly purchased 2,600 of these mace weapons, which
are anticipated to be employed by PLA soldiers along the Line of Actual Control
between China and India.
The hammerhead, rod body, and rod drill of the maces are
each around 1.8 meters long, according to the purchase order. The hammerhead
is approximately 50 cm long, with sharp edges and fine steel spikes on both
ends, and is machined, welded, and quenched for strength. A pipe constructed of
zinc steel makes up the rod's body.
The mannequin broke in two during the testing process, and
the mace appears to be quite strong and simulates a fast hit. On the PLA's
online store, there are images of the mace and combined mace, which is
fist-fighting tools.
Experts believe that because these weapons have already
been deployed on the India-China border, they will undoubtedly be employed once
more. In spite of China's official attitude, this has led to worries about the
worsening of border issues.
Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told
his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar that India and China should work together
to quickly bring the situation at the borders "under normalized
management" and place the boundary issue in the "right place" in
their bilateral ties. The recent acquisition of weaponry by China, however,
paints a different image.
Spiked maces were purchased by the PLA after they
submitted a tender in January of this year. The mace must be longer than usual
and be able to be carried independently in order to meet the requirements for
the purchase order. Chinese social media users assert that one may still defend
oneself against an opponent's weapon while using these maces to strike the
opponent from a distance.
Debates regarding these weapons' ferocity and
effectiveness as well as the insulating substance they are composed of have
also taken place on Chinese social media. On Chinese social media, several
users expressed their worries and conjectured that the PLA might deploy them to
deal with commoners, but the bigger concern was border clashes between India
and China as summer approached.
According to experts, the Chinese Army's acquisition of
this weaponry indicates that China is ready to deter India and that border
disputes would worsen. The People's Armed Police in Tianjin have previously
used maces to battle criminals while on patrol, and the PLA troops have also
been taught to wield them in warfare.
Although India has been promoting diplomacy and
negotiations, the next days may be difficult, and with summer finally here, the
heat may also be felt along the Indo-China border. The new acquisition of
weaponry by China has further heightened the tension since the Indian Army has
already begun to prepare for the summer deployment.
Concerns about China's intentions and the worsening of
border issues have been raised by China's acquisition of weaponry used in the
Galwan conflict. While the two nations are still in negotiations, China's new
action has further increased tensions.
