A video showing several PLA recruits crying on a bus as they were allegedly being transferred
to Ladakh Border to face the Indian Army has gone viral.
The footage was originally posted on the WeChat page of Fuyang City Weekly on Sept. 15, but
it was soon deleted.
The original post shows 10 fresh recruits from Fuyang City's Yingzhou District in China's
Anhui Province crying as they sing the words to the PLA song "Green Flowers in the Army"
The Chinese Weibo account then claimed that the 10 recruits were crying because they had
just left their parents and were heading to their barracks, not the Sino-India border.
But the quick removal of the video and subsequent censorship related to this topic indicated
that the footage was indeed most likely genuine.
The footage actually shows a different side of PLA which is portrayed as an intimidating
force by Chinese keyboard warriors and the Chinese Communist Party.
This clip has got a lot of focus as India and China are currently engaged in bitter
dispute over the Line of Actual Control or LAC where they have a difference in perception
of its actual alignment at nearly 14 different points.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why China’s People’s Liberation Army soldiers
are crying on the way to the Indo-China border?
Let’s get started.
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Almost 30% of soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) comprises of conscripted manpower,
who are forced to serve in the military for two years and then retired.
Article 55 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China prescribes conscription
by stating: "It is a sacred duty of every citizen of the People's Republic of China
to defend his or her motherland and resist invasion.
It is an honoured obligation of the citizens of the People's Republic of China to perform
military service and to join the militia forces.”
People who are proved to have avoided the draft are liable for punishment, and Beijing
authorities criticize those youths who do not want to join the army.
Most youth are not motivated and don’t associate joining PLA with pride.
A soldier’s passion to sacrifice himself for the nation is clearly missing in People’s
Liberation Army.
The heart is not with the body.
This scheme ensures excellent headcount - PLA is the largest in the world but has major
loophole.
They hardly have rigorous military training and in combat they get exposed.
This could be seen in the Galwan Valley clash when about 100 Indian Army troops were able
to take a heavy toll on even when they were outnumbered by 300-350 PLA soldiers.
PLA’s last experience in battle was in 1979 when it suffered a loss to Vietnam.
PLA soldiers have been wielding guns in front of civilian populations.
This is very different from real battle when they will face battle-hardened soldiers pointing
guns at them.
These soldiers are hardly a match for the professional Indian Army.
Indian Army has been dealing with Pakistan-sponsored terror operatives most of who are heavily
armed for decades.
It has been engaged in numerous conflicts over the years against the Pakistani Army.
This is also true for the commander who will have to make crucial tactical decisions in
the fog of war.
Viewers may note that actual combat experience can’t be replaced by paper theories.
On top of this, it is to be noted that PLA commanders spend almost 40% of their time
in “political training.”
India also posses the largest mountain force in the world and these troops are used to
the harsh climatic conditions in regions like Ladakh where temperate can move well below
0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
In general, the Army of a nation is numerically much superior to other branches like the Air
Force and Navy History shows us that a military coup is generally
conducted by the Army.
After Xi Jinping took over power in 2012, he has emerged as the most powerful leader
after Mao Zedong.
He has time and again emphasized that PLA must obey the directives of the Communist
Party China (CPC).
This indicates that things are not fine.
Xi Jinping has been very conscious that PLA could overthrow him if it becomes too powerful.
The reason for this fear is the simmering discontent that is running in the hearts of
more than 55 million veterans of PLA who have been treated even more poorly than the current
once and almost have to beg for their due in-front of CPC’s regional officials.
To counter this Xi Jinping has purged many experienced PLA personnel.
He has also enforced a system where there is a constant churn within PLA
For example, a Tank commander may be shifted to the Infantry division after a while.
This tactic hinders the development of expertise and will be very counter productive in case
a real battle ensues.
On June 15, during the Galwan valley clash both India & China have suffered significant
casualties.
This is actually the biggest-ever military confrontation between the two armies in over
five decades.
The Indian Army stated that 20 Army personnel, including Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh
Babu, lost their lives.
The bodies of Indian soldiers were sent to their hometown and they were laid to rest
with full state honor.
The domestic population was apprised of the Indian soldier's bravery & sacrifice by none
other PM Modi.
On the other hand, China didn’t disclose its numbers.
Indian radio intercepts indicate that China lost 43 of its men.
U.S officials quoting intelligence sources said that the Chinese army suffered 35 casualties
and stated that China didn’t disclose its number as it has come as a major embarrassment
for the communist regime.
For the CCP, it was seen as a loss of face and no formal recognization was conferred
for the ultimate sacrifice.
Viewers may note that the PLA is a rare military in the world that obeys, not the government,
but the command of the CCP since the days of Mao.
Deep down a PLA soldier knows he is just cannon fodder for the communist party
Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping introduced the one-child policy in 1979 to curb China’s
rapidly growing population.
PLA soldiers are products of one-child families and are often referred to as 'little emperors’
and 'mama's boys'
According to a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University,
as much as 70% of the Chinese military is made up of men and women who are the only
children in their family.
The Study Times an ideology-focused government publication has warned “Soldiers from the
one-child generations are wimps who have absolutely no fighting spirit,”
Studies indicate that raising Chinese children without siblings has many detrimental effects
- they are too pampered, pessimistic, and risk-averse and are hence are especially unsuitable
to become soldiers.
This has a very complex implication - will a PLA more soldier be able to carry out a
dangerous mission when the commander demands it?
History will tell us that one of the important factors behind the success of D Day landings
in World War II was the immense valor of the allied forces who braved great odds.
PLA soldier is likely to be found wanting in these situations.