Home

Featured Articles

Jul 05, 2025
Viren S Doshi

Stranded Stealth Saga: British F-35B in India Triggered Leftist-Jihadi Rhapsody

On June 14, 2025, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II, a $110-million pinnacle of aerospace engineering, made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, during joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea. A low-fuel situation, exacerbated by monsoon turbulence, led to the unscheduled stop, but a hydraulic issue has kept this technological marvel grounded for over three weeks, under the vigilant protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Let us first take stock of the technicalities so that the facts are not overshadowed by “humour-coated”, subtle anti-democratic narratives. The jet’s advanced technology commands respect, showcasing human ingenuity even in its moment of vulnerability. The Emergency Landing Imagine a cutting-edge F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group (CSG25), soaring 100 nautical miles off Kerala during drills with the Indian Navy. At 9:28 PM IST on June 14, Captain Mike, the pilot, signals a 43-second SQUAWK 7700 distress code—low fuel. The Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) deftly guides the jet to Thiruvananthapuram’s tarmac. A hydraulic issue, detected during pre-departure checks, anchored it at Bay 4, the airport’s VIP zone. Guarded 24/7 by CISF, the jet—a testament to engineering brilliance—sat under monsoon rains. Technical Marvel: The F-35B’s Ingenuity The F-35B, crafted by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation masterpiece. Its stealth design, with a radar cross-section the size of a golf ball (0.005 square meters), makes it nearly invisible to enemy radar. Capable of Mach 1.6 speeds, it wields guided missiles, a 25mm cannon, and advanced electronic warfare systems. Its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability, powered by a lift fan and swivelling nozzle, allows operations from carriers like HMS Prince of Wales, a feat of engineering that redefines versatility. The hydraulic system—driving landing gear, brakes, flight surfaces, and STOVL mechanics—is a complex network, and its current failure underscores the jet’s intricate design, requiring specialised expertise not readily available or to be accessed everywhere. A three-man Royal Navy crew, flown in via AW101 Merlin on June 15, couldn’t resolve the hydraulic issue. The UK, cautious about the advanced technology of the fighter jet, initially declined Air India’s hangar offer, prioritising security. Unlike the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), notorious for intellectual property (IP) theft, India offered cooperative assistance without demanding tech insights, earning respect for its integrity. After two weeks, the UK agreed to move the jet to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility once a 40-member team, including Lockheed Martin specialists, arrives on July 5 with a custom tow vehicle aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. If repairs prove unfeasible, the jet may be dismantled—wings, fins, and all—to fit a C-17 for transport home, mirroring a 2022 South Korean F-35A case. The F-35’s maintenance challenges (low Mean Flight Hours Between Critical Failures) highlight the trade-offs of its cutting-edge design, but its capabilities inspire awe. An X user marvelled, “Even grounded, this jet’s tech is a wonder!” Diplomatic Harmony The incident underscores India-UK defence synergy. The IAF and Navy facilitated a safe landing and refuelling, earning praise from the British High Commission. The UK’s guarded approach to maintenance details reflects standard protocol for sensitive assets, not mistrust of India, which has never shown a CCP-like appetite for IP theft. And now, the humour-coated narrative war The lone silent fighter jet has triggered the anti-American leftist-Jihadi cabal into a rhapsody (akin to recent new types of "victories" - Ayatollah's "bloody" "victory", Pakistan's "red nose" "victory", Rahul Gandhi's electoral “victory”) without moving an inch, forget dropping even a small bomb or firing a single shot. The fighter is not making any noise and is standing silent, but has sent the cabal into a boisterous tizzy and a hallucinating cacophonic euphoria, helping forget the recent pains inflicted by the trio - India, Israel and the US. The Leftist-Jihadi Rhapsody: A Fleeting High Indian state Kerala, governed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), shares California’s leftist spirit, often critiquing Western or American capitalism. Its tourism department took the lead in the info-war with humour coating. The F-35B’s grounding—a US-UK engineering triumph paused by a hydraulic glitch—has an anti-American leftist-Jihadi cabal buzzing like intoxicated insects. Recent wars exposed CCP weapons as damp squibs, fizzling on the battlefield like wet firecrackers. It’s a temporary high, dulling the pain from India-Israel-US geopolitical blows. Is this a propaganda scheme? In these days of volleys of victorious narratives shot against actual bombs and missiles, this can very much be subtle propaganda — casting the jet as a “guest” teases American pride emanating from red-flag rebellion. Imagine the F-35B tweeting, “Kerala’s hospitality outshines my stealth, but be sure I’m not funding your anti-capitalist party!” Or Lockheed Martin quipping, “Our jet’s grounded, but slogans and memes soar just to boomerang — bravo, Red Green Nexus thriving in the land of God!” Conclusion: A Silent Marvel, A Vibrant Saga The F-35B’s Kerala chapter has been turned into - diplomatic comedy narrative epicentre, as the leftist cabal has no other credible ammunition. The hydraulic glitch highlights the challenges of cutting-edge engineering, yet its advanced design inspires admiration. India’s cooperative spirit, free of CCP-style IP grabs, strengthens India-UK ties. Leftist-Jihadi meme-fest reflecting cabal’s euphoria, fuelled by CCP’s battlefield flops, is mere noise, no bombs. The F-35B, even grounded, stands as a testament to human innovation, earning respect amid the monsoon mayhem.

Jul 05, 2025
Ramaharitha Pusarla

The Tibetan Equation: Time for a Policy Overhaul

Considered as ‘Living Buddha’, the 14th Dalai Lama, has announced a succession plan on the eve of his 90th birthday, ending speculations over reincarnation and disbanding of the 600-year-old religious institution of Tibetan Buddhism. Bestowing the exclusive power to carry out the succession plan with the members of Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Dalai Lama has rejected Chinese legal jurisdiction and authority. He indicated that the next incarnation will be born in the ‘free world’ in regions not under Chinese rule. This has also put to rest decades of uncertainty about whether the Dalai Lama would reincarnate or emanate. Earlier, the Dalai Lama had signalled that he would choose not to reincarnate and be the last in the line of this tradition. He also indicated that he might pass on the mantle to someone of his choosing during his lifetime and not reincarnate. Besides profound spiritual significance, the announcement has been at the heart of complex geo-political conflict in the region. Born as Lhamo Thondup in the Amodo region of Tibet in 1935, identified as the Dalai Lama incarnate at the age of two, after the death of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1933, he was trained to become the next Dalai Lama. Conferred with the monastic name of Tenzin Gyatso, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as the spiritual and religious leader of Tibetans. Following China’s annexation of Tibet in 1950-51, the Dalai Lama left Lhasa and fled to India in 1959 and established the Tibetan government in exile or CTA (Central Tibetan Administration), in Dharamsala. In his recent book, published in March, “Voice of the Voiceless”, Dalai Lama wrote, “Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world”. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Dalai Lama chooses to reincarnate in India, for he has lived in India for 66 years. The 4th Dalai Lama was born in Mongolia, and the 6th Dalai Lama was traced to the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. After the Dalai Lama’s announcement, China insisted that the ‘Golden Urn method’ instituted by the Qing Dynasty would prevail. The Imperial Ordinance of 1793 (Better Governance of Tibet or the 29-article ordinance) of China prescribes the procedure for reincarnation of the Living Buddhas and subjects the selected candidate to the approval by Beijing. Acceding to the challenging times of the time, the ordinance was applied in the 11th, 12th Dalai Lamas and dispensed with in the 9th, 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. China’s disapproval of the Dalai Lama’s succession plan is a painful reminder of its blatant interference in the religious matters of Tibetans. In 1995, just three days after the Dalai Lama recognised a six-year-old child reincarnate, born in Lhari County, Tibet, for the second-highest office of the 11th Panchen Lama, he was abducted along with his parents. His mysterious disappearance is still unresolved. Despite international pressure, Chinese authorities refuse to confirm his whereabouts. The Panchen Lama is historically tasked with identifying the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, and hence, the position assumes considerable significance. In 1996, China replaced the Panchen Lama with another boy whose parents were believed to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China’s disapproval of the Dalai Lama’s succession plan has ascertained the prospect of Tibetans having two Dalai Lamas. Given the large population of the Tibetan exile community in India, the Tibetan question is both a foreign policy issue and a domestic affair as well. The bulk of Tibetan exiles, roughly 85,000 people, live in India. Beijing views India’s asylum of the Dalai Lama as a contentious issue. Considered as the potent symbol of non-violence, compassion and religious tolerance, his presence in India rankles China as this effectively undermines the legitimacy of Chinese claims to Tibet. Though he hasn’t alluded to independent status for Tibet, the Dalai Lama rejected China’s historical claims to Tibet by stating that ‘Chinese and Tibetan people have lived as neighbours’. He proposed a “Middle-way” approach of having a “genuine autonomy” while being a part of the PRC, frustrating Chinese dreams of reunification. Even though the CTA and Tibetan parliament have passed legislation on the “middle way solution” as a way to resolve the Sino-Tibetan issue, Tibetans haven’t forsaken the independence question. Thus, the Tibet question remains a vexatious issue for China. Getting to the heart of China’s discomfort with the Dalai Lama, Vijay Gokhale, former Indian ambassador to China, in his paper- “The Next Dalai Lama Preparing for Incarnation: Why It Matters to India?” writes that the CCP’s policy approaches the Tibet question through the lens of social stability and national security. Religion is antithetical to communism. As a natural consequence, the CCP is highly distrustful of the religious influence of the Dalai Lama over the Tibetan populace. China’s intolerance towards the Dalai Lama flows from the CCP’s inherent ideological intolerance towards religion and the disproportionate influence of the Dalai Lama on indigenous Tibetans despite over six decades of his absence from the original seat of Tibetan Buddhism, Potala Palace, Lhasa. He is revered as the embodiment of Tibetan identity, values and religious beliefs. Sadly, for Beijing, its military might and economic integration attempts have failed to erase the Dalai Lama from the collective memories of Tibetans. CCP considers the Dalai Lama a threat to social stability. After the two rounds of failed exploratory talks between the CCP and the Dalai Lama in 1982 and 1984, to build international pressure on China, the Dalai Lama has internationalised the Tibetan issue. Subsequently, the CCP, which is extremely irascible about its international image, labelled him a “splittist” and a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Additionally, burgeoning Western interest in the Tibetan question accentuated the CCP’s fears of religious institutions becoming conduits for foreign interference. CCP is keen on having a pliant Dalai Lama to bury the Tibetan question. The Dalai Lama’s rejection of Chinese authority on the reincarnation process has widened the existing discordance. PRC intends to quell the idea of the Dalai Lama to subdue Tibet into complete subservience. CCP believes Tibetan Buddhism has a potential destabilisation role and deems reincarnation as the cornerstone of the ‘securitisation’ of PRC. Notwithstanding several centuries of religious and cultural contacts with Tibet, India has meekly surrendered its customary rights in Tibetan territory after the Chinese invasion to avoid confrontation with the PRC. Even after ceding its extraterritorial privileges in 1954, thanks to India’s diplomatic pusillanimity, China invaded India in 1962. China acknowledges Indian influence on the Dalai Lama, but India refrained from overtly playing the ‘Tibet Card’ to avoid provoking Beijing. However, India permits the Tibetan exile community to practice and nurture their religion and culture. The CTA and the Tibetan parliament operate from India. India accords high respect to the Dalai Lama as the living legend of Tibetan Buddhism and allows foreign delegations to visit Dharmsala. “Tibet is China’s soft underbelly”, and the CCP, wary of this vulnerability, has steadily ratcheted up repressive legislative measures to obliterate its religious identity. Ushering in “Sinicisation” of Tibet, the CCP has introduced mandatory patriotic re-education for Tibetan monks and nuns and delegated CCP cadres to oversee the functioning of Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. It also approved and recognised 93 newly reincarnated Living Buddhas by 2022. While the CCP is systematically uprooting the basic foundations of Tibetan Buddhism, the institute blossomed in India. India is now the seat of Tibetan educational and cultural institutions. Despite sheltering the exiled Tibetan community, India never allowed any anti-Chinese activities on its territory. Indeed, India has been circumspect in dealing with the Dalai Lama and strictly upholds the three M’s- Mutual Respect, Mutual Sensitivities and Mutual Interests. Beijing considers all aspects related to Tibet as internal affairs and brooks no external interference. China expects India to unconditionally extend all assistance regarding Tibet, but wouldn’t extend similar reciprocity. Post- Article 370 abrogation, it backed Pakistan in internationalising the Kashmir issue. Clearly, China’s relentless anti-India campaigns, including the veto blocks at the UNSC, blatant violation of mutually agreed bilateral treaties, and continued incursions along the border, warrant a serious recalibration of India's approach. The growing list of China’s inimical unilateral anti-India actions, such as military help and intelligence support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, withdrawal of Chinese technicians from Indian electronic manufacturing, stalling of rare earths and speciality fertilisers and infiltration of India’s military supply chains are now reaching a geopolitical inflexion point. Unlike India’s nuanced diplomacy, the US has swiftly and tactfully rechartered its Tibetan policy to align with its strategic interests. During World War II, the US never questioned China’s claims to Tibet but directed the Dalai Lama to disavow the Seventeenth Amendment after the 1950 Korean War. The CIA had assisted the Khampa Rebellion in East Tibet. After the failed rebellion, the US recognised the special status of Tibet and acknowledged its self-determination. In 1979, the Nixon administration adopted a hands-off approach to Tibet to establish diplomatic ties with China. By the late 1980s, the US Congress supported the Tibetan Buddhist cause, hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House and created a special coordinator for Tibetan affairs to oversee human rights issues of Tibetans By 2002, when US-China ties reached a new level, the US Congress passed the Tibetan Policy Act (TPA), making it a political agenda. In 2020, Trump signed the second piece of legislation, turning the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) into a law. TPSA endorsed Tibetan rights to select their leaders and termed China’s interference in the reincarnation process as “blatant violation of the fundamental religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists”, and allowed the US administration to sanction CCP officials interfering with the identification and installation of the 15th Dalai Lama. The law mandated the special coordinator on Tibetan affairs to explore international coalitions to oppose Chinese efforts to select Tibetan Living Buddhas and protect Tibetan religious rights. Bolstering Tibetan policy, in 2024, Biden signed the third piece of legislation- the Resolve Tibet Act (Promotion of a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act), which asserted that the US government “has never taken a position that Tibet was a part of China since ancient times”. It specifically defined that the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) comprises Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan. Washington’s three-piece legislation, besides safeguarding the Tibetan Buddhist rights, can double up as a potent geopolitical tool against China’s grand reunification dream. The US has certainly played into Chinese fears of foreign interference. To ward off any external forces, Xi has tightened regulations on Tibetans and, to reassert China's legitimacy, started calling Tibet 'Xizang'. Eschewing the US administration's international coalition for the Tibetan question, India explicitly remained neutral to the US legislation on Tibet. Cognisant of the potential implications of the Tibet issue on India-China relations, New Delhi deliberately manages the Dalai Lama very cautiously. Reacting to the Dalai Lama’s succession plan, the MEA clarified, “The government of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. The government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so”. However, in a significant departure, GoI will be represented by Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang and Karnataka Minister Gangadaraiah at the 90th Birthday celebration of Dalai Lama on July 6th as a signal to China. As a vibrant democracy committed to upholding the religious rights of the persecuted community and their rights, India must now take a strong stance. As a home to a major chunk of Tibetan Buddhists, the reincarnation process and the interregnum period of identification of the 15th Dalai Lama can have significant security implications for India. India can leverage the exiled Tibetan community, but refrains from provoking China. But as Beijing continues to ruthlessly trample India’s ‘Red Lines’, it is time to recalibrate its Tibetan policy. References https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/dalai-lama-succession-plan-china-explained-13902303.html https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/11/the-next-dalai-lama-preparing-for-reincarnation-and-why-it-matters-to-india?lang=en https://orcasia.org/allfiles/ORCA-ISDP-Special-Issue_2023.pdf https://www.news18.com/opinion/global-watch-the-dalai-lama-at-90-a-spiritual-legacy-caught-between-faith-and-force-9417269.html