Beijing- China is in the grip of an economic recession. There are large scale riots across China due to a loss of wealth caused by bursting property bubbles, large state owned banks tanking under bad debts and increasing corruption among the official class. The Communist party hits the panic button as its stranglehold over the country looks shaky. The CPC holds an emergency meeting to deal with the crisis. Brutal repression on a large scale as in Tiananmen Square is ruled out as it will further alienate the population. The CPC looks at the next best option-Diverting the people's attention by conjuring up an external threat. The all time favorite, the US is immediately ruled out as its economic survival is intrinsically linked to US well being. Japan is ruled out for similar reasons. Vietnam is still a fly in the ointment and not deemed a worthy opponent enough. The best option is their giant neighbor to the south which has already been "taught a lesson "in 1962 and still suffers from a deep inferiority complex. Orders are immediately issued to prepare an invasion throughout the Himalayas. The border patrols are ordered to be more "aggressive'" than usual and a massive mobilization is underway aided by the brand new road and rail network.
New Delhi-The Government becomes aware of a sudden spike in Chinese incursions in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. These reports are leaked to the media who promptly go to town with it. The Government and Army chief stress that these incidents are overblown and such incursions are due to the differing perceptions of the border line and there are mechanisms to deal with it. However secretly, the government is worried. It realizes that if China invades it does not have the logistics to defend its territory. Most of the roads building projects are stuck in red tape due to objections raised by the environment ministry and finance ministries. The artillery guns are 3 decades old and not replaced with new ones. The most recent attempt to procure guns has also failed due to kickback allegations. The proposed mountain strike corps is still only a 'proposal'. There are no mechanized divisions capable of thwarting Chinese advances. However there are some silver linings in the clouds. India has a strategic airlift capability and much more advanced airforce comprising Su 3o MKI 's and Rafales. India has recently inducted a squadron of Brahmos capable Super Sukhoi's .Thousands of Brahmos missiles and Aakash batteries are stationed all along the border in a state of readiness. Further inland, squadrons of Shourya and Nirbhaymissiles are aimed to strike targets deeper into Tibet.
Washington: The American president is briefed about the unfolding scenario. A meeting is called in the White House situation room. The participants are aware that an Indo-China conflagration will have global consequences. Another Chinese victory will make it impossible to stop the Chinese juggernaut and threaten the whole of Asia including its treaty allies. It is concluded that a Chinese victory is not acceptable and everything to achieve the opposite needs to be done with the sole exception of directly confronting China. Various options like supplying military hardware and sharing intelligence is discussed.The President calls up the Indian prime minister to offer all possible help .The Prime minister aware that the US cannot publicly get involved in any conflict asks for military supplies like dozens of C 17 Globemasters, light artillery guns, Stinger , Javelin , missiles and Sensor fuzed bombs .The US immediately clears the supply from its own stocks to be dispatched to India. Round the clock satellite monitoring begins of Chinese formation in Tibet. A 24 hour hotline is established between the CIA, NRO and the Indian Government.
Indo Tibetan Border : Aggressive armed patrols come face to face with Indian patrols leading to arguments and shouting matches between the Indian and Chinese soldiers. Such skirmishes begin in a coordinated way all along the Indo Tibetan border. The Indian army receives intelligence that upto 200000 Chinese troops are already stationed along the border. After two days of border skirmishes, the Chinese launch a sudden offensive on Indian forward posts in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Bhutan. Hundred of missiles are launched at Indian Army's Himalayan bases as well as the advanced landing grounds of the airforce. A war of attrition immediately begins as the Chinese are slow to progress into Indian territory due to bad roads. Realizing the tiny window of opportunity available, the India launches a lightning strike into Tibet. Hundreds of Brahmos missiles are launced at one go targeting Chinese Air defence and communication sites.The Aakash missiles are moderately successful in preventing ingress of Chinese missiles. There is enormous damage to Indian air fields, however there is no major loss of aircraft as the Indian Air force keeps its advanced assets further back inside Indian territory to prevent losses.The Brahmos missiles are extremely successful in destroying air defence installations, command and control infrastructure and the Tibet railway line.On cue the Indian airforce jets aided by AWACS launch raids deep into Tibet where they encounter Chinese J 10's and J11's and Su27 aircraft.The Chinese aircraft handicapped by light payloads due to taking off from the rarified air of Tibetan airfiels are no match for the IAF jets taking off from the plains and heavily laden with missiles. The PLAAF suffers heavy casualties in terms of aircraft. The strike fighters achieve air dominance over Tibetan air space quickly. The C17s and IL 76's conduct day and night sorties into Tibet. An entire mechanized division is airlifted followed by paratroop divisions and elite troops. Chinese supply lines are broken at several places.The war of attrition is beginning to take a toll on Chinese forces. They are no match to Indian troops who are experts in high mountain warfare. Casualties mount and they are caught between defending Indian troops in Indian territory and the offensive Indian formations in Tibet.
Dharamshala : Chinese missiles rain down on Dharamsala. The population is evacuated. There is increasing pressure on the Dalai Lama to declare Tibetan Independence. He is undecided as he doesn't want the common Tibetan people to get caught in the crossfire. The Indian government convinces the Tibetan Prime minister to call upon Tibetans to sabotage the Chinese. Tibetan refugees from all over the world converge in India to sneak into Tibet and sabotage Chinese infrastructure. Under pressure from radical young Tibetans, the Dalai Lama calls for independence from China.
Inside Tibet, Millions of Tibetans rise in revolt against China, attacking their command and control infrastructure. Armed with a steady flow of weapons and logistics, they inflict colossal damage on Chinese forces. The Indian navy imposes an economic blockade in the straits of Malacca. To state its intent two Chinese cargo ships are sunk. Navy P 8i aircraft keep a close watch on the waters hunting Chinese submarines. Ship transit on the straits grinds to a complete halt causing havoc in the global markets.
The international community increases pressure on China and India to negotiate a ceasefire. The Chinese government cannot accept the fact that an inferior neighbor has pulled the rug from under its feet and continues hostilities including threat to use nuclear weapons. The US launches a massive cyber attack on China, bringing down the great Firewall allowing millions of Chinese to know the actual sequence of events. Public unrests rises and there is widespread anger against the government for going to war when there was greater need for improving their lives. The Chinese government senses the mood and comes around to negotiate a ceasefire agreement. India insists any settlement should include freedom of Tibet, either in whole or partially. India manages to get the Chinese out of strategically and hydrologically areas of Tibet and declares an independent state of Tibet, under its protection. The UN Security Council decides to send an international monitoring force to Tibet ensure the observance of ceasefire.
