Chinese enters Indian territory to collect Cordyceps known as caterpillar fungus or Himalayan Gold. According to the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communication (IPCSC). It is a high-priced herbal drug in China.
China is accused of illegally entering Arunachal Pradesh for fungus which is more expensive than gold in China. It is mainly found in the Himalayas at the higher altitudes of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in southwestern China.
Globally, in 2022, the Cordyceps market has been valued at USD 1,072.50 million. China is the largest producer as well as exporter of Cordyceps.
However, according to IPCSC, “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.”