You know China is in deep trouble when the Chinese propaganda machinery starts falling apart, and it has started- Communist Party of China (CCP) mouthpiece Global Times has gone bonkers after the violent stand-off between the Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Galwan Valley on Monday.
China has suffered heavy casualties- Indian intercepts say 43 either died or got critically injured, and US intelligence says 35 Chinese troops died. China was planning to brush everything under the carpet, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also pleaded ignorance about any fatality on China’s side. And this is when the Global Times spilled the beans.
Global Times came up with figures of five dead. Soon the Global Times retracted its statement about the death of five soldiers, but both Chinese Foreign Ministry and Global Times ended up in catch-22 situation. Later, it admitted, “severe clashes and casualties.”
Hu Xijin, the Editor-in chief of the mouthpiece, who had also participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 only to become the Editor-in chief of the autocratic regime’s mouthpiece later on, says China suffered casualties. How many? He says he doesn’t know. It is China’s “goodwill” not to release casualty figures, Xijing says.
The official Global Times accounts have NEVER reported the exact casualties on the Chinese side. The Global Times CANNOT confirm the number at the moment.
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 16, 2020
Chinese side didn’t release number of PLA casualties in clash with Indian soldiers. My understanding is the Chinese side doesn’t want people of the two countries to compare the casualties number so to avoid stoking public mood. This is goodwill from Beijing.
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020
For all his “goodwill”, Hu Xijin has become the Asif Ghafoor of 2020 and he is also being ridiculed by Indian social media users. The Global Times itself is behaving in a volatile manner, and every article is different from the other. They have admitted casualties, so being the backfoot is a more reasonable and natural position.
But they also have to hide Xi Jinping’s bloody nose, and therefore they are also playing the role that Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had played after the Balakot airstrikes, that is, chest-thumping even after being beaten black and blue by the adversary.
There are stories and tweets that try to extend the olive branch, and the propaganda wing says, “China-India border conflicts will likely see a “soft landing” despite the deadly clash on Mon, as both countries have kept a clear mind to keep frictions in check, as seen in their restrained statements and that their troops did not use guns.”
#China–#India #border conflicts will likely see a "soft landing" despite the deadly clash on Mon, as both countries have kept a clear mind to keep frictions in check, as seen in their restrained statements and that their troops did not use guns: analysts https://t.co/EmpPhZjhrM
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 17, 2020
There is also an attempt to invoke people-to-people relations between the two countries and the mouthpiece tweeted a video of Indian chefs from a Shanghai restaurant. The tweet reads, “Shanghai’s Indian restaurants continue to serve customers from around the world. Multi-cultural customers enjoy their lunch in two Indian restaurants in downtown Shanghai Wednesday, with Indian chefs seen preparing delicious meals in kitchen.”
Shanghai's #Indian restaurants continue to serve customers from around the world. Multi-cultural customers enjoy their lunch in two Indian restaurants in downtown #Shanghai Wednesday, with Indian chefs seen preparing delicious meals in kitchen. pic.twitter.com/jr8xDkgewC
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 17, 2020
In fact, it has even begged for peace as an editorial directly says, “Border peace basis for healthy China-India ties.”
But the Global Times is also trying to show a dominating position by running a war commentary at the same time. The editorial policy has gone haywire and the mouthpiece has become dichotomous.
Hu Xijin tweeted, “Indian society needs to rid two misjudgments: 1. It underestimates China’s will to prevent Indian troops from crossing LAC; 2. It thinks India has military capacity to beat China in a border war. Correct understanding of each other is basis for China-India friendly coexistence.”
Indian society needs to rid two misjudgments: 1. It underestimates China’s will to prevent Indian troops from crossing LAC; 2. It thinks India has military capacity to beat China in a border war. Correct understanding of each other is basis for China-India friendly coexistence.
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) June 17, 2020
At the same time, he also wants to take potshots at the Indian Army- the same military force that has given his country ‘severe casualties’. Thus, he tweeted, “17 injured Indian soldiers reportedly died due to lack of in-time rescue, which reflects the serious flaws of Indian army to provide emergency treatment to the wounded. This is not an army with real modern combat capabilities at plateau. Indian public opinion needs to stay sober.”
In between, the Global Times starts tweeting images of attack helicopters and missile launch drills. Don’t forget what we told you earlier- Global Times is also singing poems of peace at the same time.
Attack helicopters prepare to lift off https://t.co/YX6K3on3mb pic.twitter.com/jOGaoqfGIS
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 17, 2020
WATCH: Chinese PLA Rocket Force conducts maneuvering and live-fire missile launch drills (Video: PLA Rocket Force) pic.twitter.com/KzohtLV2K2
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 17, 2020
Global Times is confused and so is its Editor-in chief. Suddenly, the mouthpiece has also started warning Indians against boycotting Chinese goods.
Taking a jibe at former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh’s call for Chinese boycott, Xijin tweeted, “China has long since passed the era where celebrities lead the calls for boycotting foreign products. This “influencer” is reportedly one of the most famous sports stars in India; well, here he is representing another negative and backward image of great Indian culture.”
China has long since passed the era where celebrities lead the calls for boycotting foreign products. This "influencer" is reportedly one of the most famous sports stars in India; well, here he is representing another negative and backward image of great Indian culture. pic.twitter.com/hLNquK3p3m
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) June 18, 2020
Global Times is desperate and confused, and now it is invoking Bollywood too. In a story titled, “China-India border clash should not be allowed to impact cultural exchanges”, it stated, “It’s hard to believe that these hateful comments and opinions from some Indian netizens on social media platforms like Twitter are coming from the country shown in movies such as Dangal, Secret Superstar and Hindi Medium, which depicts the people of the country as honest, friendly and modest.”
It's hard to believe that hateful calls to 'boycott #China' on Twitter are coming from the same #India shown in movies such as #Dangal, #SecretSuperstar and #HindiMedium, which depicts the people of the country as honest, friendly and modest. https://t.co/ubMp84mNBL pic.twitter.com/LfFvgNcxnm
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 18, 2020
While some editorials and op-ed are loaded with propaganda and war commentary, one story is titled, “India should curb ‘boycott China’ voices after border clash.” The caricature in the editorial is telling- the mighty Dragon has suddenly become Panda in this editorial.
Opinion: India should curb ‘boycott China’ voices after border clash https://t.co/ZzNJIoh2mx pic.twitter.com/FGOvVjRiuy
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 17, 2020
China has been taken aback and the volatility in Global Times is only a reflection of chaos in Chinese Foreign Policy- it wanted to backstab India in Ladakh, but the Indian Army inflicted heavy casualties on China. Now, China wants to hide its bloody nose and at the same time run an aggressive war commentary as well.
