A squad from the Gamba battalion patrols an unpopulated border area in Gamba, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
Stationed in a region with an average altitude of 4,800 meters, where temperatures can hit lows of minus 40 C with strong gusts of wind for over 200 days a year, Gamba battalion, a heroic troop garrisoned in Gamba county, Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has a long history guarding the borderline in a region with one of the harshest environments known to man.
In August 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an order to confer the battalion with the honorary title "Model Border Battalion on the Plateau."
On September 13, Xi replied to a letter from the plateau-stationed battalion and urged border troops to guard the country's borders well and make new contributions to the Party and the people of the country.
Xi commended the battalion members for their remarkable efforts in guarding China's border region, noting they have dedicated their youth to securing the country's territorial integrity and have accomplished their missions well.
The Global Times joined the Gamba battalion in a recent trip to experience the grueling work of the officers and soldiers and explore the essence of their iron will.
Because of the situation, the battalion's top officers were mostly absent from the headquarters, as they were garrisoned with soldiers at the frontline.
Many soldiers in this battalion have submitted appeals to devote themselves at the border. They said they have always dreamed of the moment they get to drive away invading forces and defend their country. No inch of homeland can be lost from the hands of Gamba battalion's soldiers and officers.
A Gamba battalion squad goes on patrol in the glacier. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
At the giant Chode Nyima glacier, more than 5,200 meters above sea level, it is hard for people from lower altitudes to bear the oxygen-poor conditions. They have to rest after every 20 steps during the arduous climb.
But the squad of border defenders walks on the ice, climbing and descending with relative ease despite the rocks falling around them. The front man holds a red flag, which waves steadily in the wind.
This is an ordinary daily patrol by the Gamba battalion. Almost every day, they have to face an oxygen deficit, extreme cold, strong ultraviolet rays, wind and geological disasters.
The soldiers say that in the world of the Gamba battalion, there are only two seasons - winter and almost winter.
The battalion is stationed in an area of an average height of 4,810 meters above sea level, and the highest patrol post is more than 6,000 meters above sea level.
The 5592 watch post of the Gamba battalion. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
In winter, the oxygen level in many regions the battalion guards is only 30 percent of that of other regions in China.
Li Jun, a senior officer from the regiment the Gamba battalion belongs to, told the Global Times that some of the difficulties are only surmountable through possessing an iron constitution and a spirit of self-sacrifice.
The motto of the battalion is "There is no self-interest that cannot be sacrificed, no loneliness that cannot be endured, and no difficulty that cannot be surmounted." "Only with this belief can we safeguard every inch of territory here," Li said.
Despite the high altitude and harsh living conditions, in the Gamba battalion, the country's determination to defend its border and national sovereignty can easily be felt, along with the country's care for frontline soldiers and officers - in the past years, work conditions, training and life have improved greatly.
Brand-new patrol roads cutting through the great depopulated zone in Gamba have been constructed.
Fresh fruits, including melon, cherries and grapes are sent to the frontline regularly.
At an altitude of 5,300, Chaguola military post under the Gamba battalion has oxygen canisters for soldiers or visitors to adapt to the oxygen-poor conditions.
At the "5371" highland, warm, newly built barracks are able to meet the different needs of soldiers - there is even a karaoke machine to help the troops relax.
To guard against the blistering cold seasons, soldiers and officers at the frontline have been outfitted with thermal costumes specially designed and capable of withstanding arctic temperatures.
Li said that since the battalion was honored as the "model border battalion on the plateau" five years ago, conditions changed remarkably. The infrastructure has seen big improvements, which has greatly boosted the morale of the men of the Gamba battalion, as well as their determination to safeguard the land and their spirit in training and preparing for battles.
Soldiers from a patrol squad of the Gamba battalion in an assault vehicle. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
Sense of belonging and identity
In the Gamba battalion, there are soldiers or officers who have been there for more than 10 years, as well as fresh faces who just joined as recently as a few months prior. However, all have the determination to stay and take root in this remote and tough place.
Rouzimaiti Tuerxun, a 20-year-old from Kashi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, appealed to serve at the "5592" observation point three months after he was enlisted.
Rouzimaiti was a law student at Dongbei University of Finance & Economics. He told the Global Times that he had always dreamed of being a soldier. "I feel that we should do something meaningful when we are young," he said. "Being a soldier, staying at the frontline defending the borderline is the most worthy way," he said.
Tian Haishi, a veteran squad leader in Gamba battalion, said his wish is to stay with the troops. "Some soldiers come to the border defense frontline to build a career. For me, I've got my honors already, but I couldn't leave this place. I want to be with my brothers in arms."
"I don't want to go anywhere else, I'd rather stay here to contribute to the Gamba battalion. I want to complete my duty to be a border defender," Lan Hao, vice commander at the third company, Gamba battalion, said.
A squad from the Gamba battalion patrols an unpopulated border area. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
Li Xin, political instructor of the Gamba battalion, willingly joined the border defense in Xizang after he graduated from the National University of Defense Technology.
"Whether it is from the identity of being a military man, or a Chinese national, taking root at Gamba has a special meaning," Li said. "Being stationed at the borderline of the battalion provides many opportunities to fight for the country."
"Here, every step and every roar is to defend the homeland," Li said. "Like many people have said - Where I stand is China."
In the past six decades since the Gamba battalion was founded, 31 officers and soldiers have sacrificed their lives at their posts or while patrolling. Their devotion has made the land they sacrificed their youth and lives for far more precious.
A patrol squad from the Gamba battalion have a photo taken during a task. Photo: Fan Wei/GT
'My body is the boundary marker'
Most parts of the more than 100-kilometer border guarded by the Gamba battalion have not been demarcated, nor are there any physical markers denoting China and the neighboring country, which brings great pressure for border management and control.
Wang Fatao, the information assurance staff officer at the Gamba battalion, always brings gasoline and a Chinese national flag while on a mission. He said that if he were to fall someday, he would use the gasoline to burn any illegal marker made by enemies at the border front and he would put the national flag on his body to declare the claim to the land.
Wang is known as one of the "Five knives of Gamba." A student of international relations, he came to Xizang in 2017 and devoted himself to the border region. He often serves as an interpreter at the frontline and is respected by his brothers for his bravery.
Li Xin, the political instructor, said "the soldiers and officers at Gamba battalion understand that the borderline that is demarcated and under dispute calls for us to remain grounded there. We cannot step back one step."
"If we step back a centimeter today, it means the shrinkage of the national territory, This is absolutely unacceptable!" Li said.
This spirit has been deeply instilled into the minds of men of the Gamba battalion.
"I appeal to go to a place without a boundary marker. I will use my body as the boundary marker," read an appeal letter by a soldier from the "5592" observation post.
"We are a gate and a wall for the motherland. If there is an enemy who wants to invade our territory or sovereignty, he would have to step over my dead body!" Huang Xinyu, a young soldier from Heze, East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times.
In Gamba battalion, this determination and belief is embodied in all aspects, and engraved on the mountain and stone here.
Photos of the fighting heroes from the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 are posted on the wall inside a company barrack in Gamba. Photo: Shan Jie/GT
In each company of the Gamba battalion, there is a map of China made up of red stones by officers and soldiers on the mountain next to the barracks with slogans such as "the motherland is in my heart."On the "5592" highland, the tunnel leading to the observation post is adorned with slogans like "I would rather die 10 steps forward, rather than live half a step backward" and "Behind us are thousands of peaceful lights of families, and we have no way to retreat."
At the "5371" post, the reply letter from President Xi and the photos of the fighting heroes in the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 are posted on the wall. There are also appeals from the soldiers of the Gamba battalion who ask for assignment to the frontline.
One of them wrote "For the peace of the motherland, I am ready to sacrifice everything."
All these demonstrate to the people why no inch of Chinese territory can be lost from the hands of the Gamba battalion.
