Don’t trust the Chinese People Liberation Army, even Xi Jinping has problems

By K Yatish Rajawat Internal dissent between party members is rarely a subject of discussion, however, to understand the Chumar incursion of Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) we need to look at China’s internal politics closely. Xi Jinping who took over as President of People Republic of China in March,2013 is still consolidating his position with the PLA. His way of consolidating his position within the PLA began with appointing several princelings at the top post in china. A princeling in china is a son of veteran Communist leader and is very similar to our dynasty politicians who succeed because of relationships formed over generations. Xi Jinping father Xi Zhongxun was revolutionary Communist party leader. Xi Jinping ( Xi is the surname) has been replacing the top leadership in PLA accused of corruption with his peer princeling as a recent report on 22 Sept in South China Morning Post says. The PLA has been trying to hit back in its own way, and the recent and subsequent incursions by the Chinese into the Ladakh valley have to be seen in that light. A keen China watcher and an investment banker based in Hong Kong, says, “It was not in the Chinese delegation to have the talks derailed by the incident at the border, it seems like a tactic by a section of Chinese communist Party acting in tandem with the PLA to embarrass the President.” [caption id=“attachment_1727945” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] Several Chinese commentators have voiced their concern about the ‘loss of face’ that the Chinese President suffered during his visit to India all because of the Chinese incursion. A loss of face for the ‘Paramount Leader’ as Jinping is referred to in official releases is a serious issue. Acknowledging that PLA is acting on its own and is not in control would have been a bigger loss of face for the President. Even immediate action will not be taken against those people who are responsible for this, as it would again acknowledge that the Paramount Leader has been embarrassed. China watcher says, that six months down there will be purge of the chain of command responsible for the incursion. There are two lessons to be learnt from this incident, one the Chinese army and a section of the Chinese leadership will continue to act truant on the border. This also means that it will be difficult for India to settle the border dispute with the China ever, a point I have made in my earlier articles also. Second, it is now the skills of the Indian diplomats as to how they use the shame or concern that the President felt on the border incursion. Xi Jinping did call a meeting of the PLA Chiefs after his return and he wants is clearly looking at establishing a command structure that allows him better control. Yatish Rajawat a senior journalist based in Delhi tweets at @yatishrajawat