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China recruits MMA fighters for Tibet border militia
- Mixed martial arts exponents to form Plateau Resistance Tibetan Mastiffs squad to help train troops in hand-to-hand combat
- Announcement comes after deadly skirmish in Himalayas between Indian and Chinese soldiers
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China has enlisted a squad of mixed martial arts fighters into its border militia ranks, according to state media.
The 20 MMA fighters were from the Enbo Fight Club in Sichuan province in the country’s southwest and would form the Plateau Resistance Tibetan Mastiffs to be based in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet autonomous region, state broadcaster CCTV reported on June 20.
The club is known for producing fighters who go on to compete in international tournaments such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States.
The announcement came after the deadliest clashes in decades between Chinese and Indian troops along the two countries’ contested Himalayan border.
Soldiers from both countries reportedly engaged in hours of hand-to-hand combat, with at least 20 Indian soldiers killed. China has not released the number of casualties on its side.
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Chinese exercise in Tibet after border clash with India
Chinese exercise in Tibet after border clash with India
It was not clear if the Tibetan Mastiffs would be deployed to the border with India but their main mission would be to help border patrol troops and special forces in hand-to-hand combat training, according to a Tencent News report.
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