Why were the recent Chinese intrusions across the LAC carried out?

The PLA had intruded into Indian territory to collect Cordyceps fungus : a report.

Numerous attempts of Chinese intrusion into Indian territory were to collect Cordyceps - an expensive herbal drug in China, Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said on 25 Dec.

Chinese soldiers have been accused of illegally entering Arunachal Pradesh in search of the fungus or the Himalayan Gold. Cordyceps is claimed to be costlier than gold in China.

Mainly found in the Indian Himalayas and at higher altitudes of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in southwestern China. Cordyceps has been valued at $1,072.50 million globally in 2022. China is the largest producer as well as exporter of Cordyceps.

In the last two years, the Cordyceps harvest has waned in Qinghai, the largest producing region in China as the fungus grew scarce. At the same time, demand for the highly prized Cordyceps has increased  sharply in the last decade as an emerging Chinese middle class seeks it to cure everything from kidney disorders to impotence, despite a lack of scientific evidence", according to IPCSC.

High demand and limited resources have led to the fungus' overharvesting, experts say.

'Output fell to 41,200 kg in 2018 from 43,500 kg a year earlier, a 5.2% slump, revealed data from the bureau. That's fraction of the 150,000 kg reported by provincial media for 2010 and 2011', according to the IPCSC.

In recent years, Chinese Cordyceps companies in Qinghai have been paying the locals millions of yuans to block off entire mountains for Cordyceps harvesting.

Surveys show that the annual Cordyceps harvest has declined. This according to the collectors, can be attributed to overharvesting.

"Some towns in the Himalayas rely on collecting and selling this fungus for a living. In fact, experts say that up to 80% of household income in the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas can come from selling caterpillar fungus", according to IPCSC.

Courtesy. The Mint.

My take

Hope it isn't fake news! A bit difficult to digest!!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, lit the lamp in the puja room, opened up the house and put on the music. The chores and was ready by 9.

Handed over 4 grand to the caretaker for the temple's special activities tomorrow.

Wrote out my mail for the selective audience and there were many responses; Anitha's was the best!

Watched the new year's program on Mazhavil Manorama.