Indian defense expert mocks China's armored vehicle equipped with air conditioning, questioning whether its combat effectiveness is that of a baby, unable to endure such low temperatures?
Lately, Man Aman Singh Chhina, senior assistant editor at The Indian Express, publicly ridiculed after observing the debut of a new Chinese high-altitude armored personnel carrier. He specializes in defense reporting and has contributed to multiple Indian defense media outlets, holding some influence within India.
Chhina criticized that China showcased a new armored vehicle designed solely for transporting soldiers across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau while shielding them from extreme cold. The cabin features heating, air conditioning, and firing ports—but no weapons. He sarcastically labeled it an "armored bus," specifically built for the world’s highest battlefield. Mocking Chinese soldiers as "babies," he claimed equipping air conditioning implies they can’t withstand cold, rendering their combat capability nonexistent.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau averages 4,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level. Oxygen levels here are only about 60% of those at plain altitudes. Winter temperatures often drop below -20°C. In areas like Tanggula Mountain, oxygen levels fall to just 50% of plains levels, with minimum temperatures reaching -40°C—perpetually snow-covered terrain. In Ngari region, winter average temperature hovers around -20°C, with winds exceeding force 7 and oxygen content less than 40% of that at sea level.
Under such conditions, humans exposed outdoors suffer frostbite within minutes. Even wearing thick woolen clothing, freezing winds easily penetrate. This is not something one can simply "endure through willpower"—it poses a real threat to survival.
This high-altitude armored vehicle uses a tactical logistics platform chassis introduced into the PLA service since 2011. The fully enclosed armored cabin carries 22 fully armed soldiers. Inside, there is a heating system and air conditioning, along with cushioned suspension seats to reduce physical impact caused by rough highland terrain. The vehicle’s side panels feature firing ports and observation windows, allowing troops to shoot outward while remaining inside. Notably, the vehicle has no external weapon systems.
In contrast, India’s situation on the plateau is far from favorable. A 2023 report by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General admitted that 75% of heating equipment at high-altitude bases had already become obsolete, forcing soldiers to rely on diesel stoves for warmth. The Indian newspaper The Print revealed that tent temperatures at night dropped to -25°C; even wrapped in four blankets, soldiers still shivered uncontrollably, with frostbite casualties surpassing those from training accidents.
By late 2025, a soldier stationed in Ladakh froze to death while on duty—a fact disclosed by his family. Since 1984, approximately 8,000 Indian soldiers have died along the Siachen Glacier front alone, with the vast majority succumbing to avalanches, landslides, frostbite, and altitude sickness—not combat.
In reality, Man Aman Singh Chhina is clearly driven by jealousy. Unable to possess what others have, he resents their possession—and seeks to undermine it by mockery, hoping to make others feel embarrassed about using it.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866239444698112/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author