The June 15 border stand-off between India and China at the LAC, resulted in casualties on both sides, albeit more on the Chinese side. While India functioning like a true democracy, it has released the names of its martyrs who have deservedly been given a hero’s send-off. However, the Chinese Communist Party initially refused to accept any casualties and now is scrambling to pacify families of the killed PLA soldiers amidst growing disdain over the CCP’s opaque handling of its affairs.
Only a government that is centred to serve the interests of its supreme leader would dishonour its martyrs. The Chinese Communist Party is famed for its opaque handling of affairs but they seemed to have hit a new low as discontent is rising rapidly on Chinese social media over the CCP’s refusal to honour its soldiers.
Faced with difficult questions, the CCP deployed its chief propagandist, Hu Xijin who is the editor of government mouthpiece, Global Times to pacify the disgruntled families of the ‘unsung’ PLA soldiers who were killed during the stand-off with India.
Hu Xijin took to Global Times to claim that, “the dead have been treated with the highest respect in the military, and that the information will eventually be reported to society at the right time, so that heroes can be honored and remembered as they deserve.”
He further wrote, “China’s security and the tranquility of China’s borders depend upon them. Thus far, the Chinese military has not released any information about the deceased. As both a former soldier and current media professional, I understand that this is an expedient move with the aim of not irritating public opinion in the two countries, especially in India. This is Beijing’s goodwill.”
Hu Xijin’s editorial which is full of false bravado and threats came on the back of a video which went viral in Chinese social media where the aghast families of the PLA personnel can be seen outraged by the fact that unlike Indian soldiers, their martyrs had received no honour and no acknowledgment.
Initially, the CCP never accepted casualties and amidst growing pressure was forced to admit casualties, which it said were “less than 20” where in reality, the PLA casualties were more than 40 according to various reports and intelligence agencies. This effectively means that the unaccounted Chinese soldiers will never be honoured and their deaths will be hushed so as to serve the CCP’s propaganda.
Chinese social media was also abuzz with the happenings at the LAC. Weibo, China’s version of Twitter saw many citizens take potshots at the CCP.
“India has held a memorial service for the sacrificial soldiers. It shows the high respect and attention of the whole country of India to the soldiers who defend the country and the land,” a Chinese Weibo user posted on June 19.
“It shows the high degree of solidarity of the Indian nation. What about us? We should learn from India and show respect to our soldiers. Why don’t we openly hold memorial services for the soldiers who died? What? 0 deaths of the PLA? Have the injured been transported? Excuse me?” said another user.
The CCP yet again has shown that it is only loyal to Xi Jinping and his lackeys.