China Ramps Up Military Infrastructure Against The Entire Border In Preparation For Hostilities With India

China is rapidy ramping up its military infrastructure all along the Line of Actual control (LAC) in preparation for hostilities between India and China, reported the Times of India.

The Chinese have sped up the construction activities of bridges, airfields, helipads, fuel and petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) storage sites and ammo dumps along the entire border in eastern Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

According to the report, the Chinese have completed the secondary bridge around the Khurnak Fort area, connecting the northern bank of Pangong Tso with the southern bank, and the primary bridge will soon be completed.

"The PLA will soon complete the main bridge in the Khurnak area, after the building the secondary one last year, for faster troop mobility between the north and south banks," the TOI report quotes a source.

The Chinese are also massively constructing infrastructure including troop shelters, bunkers, ammo dumps, radar sites, electronic intelligence early-warning sites, jetties and more assault boats on the areas beyond the Srijap-1 and 2 complex, on the other side of the 'no patrol zone' created after the troop disengagement in February 2021.

All airbases in Tibet, such as Hotan, Kashgar, Gargunsa, Shigatse, Hopingm Lingzhi, and Lhasa-Gonggar, are being upgraded with lengthened runways, more hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) for housing fighter jets, additional fuel storage sites, and electronic intelligence sites.

"Another seven to eight new airfields and heliports are also coming up," a different source says.

Apart from the construction activities going on in the eastern Ladakh sector, strengthening of infrastructure in Barahoti opposite Uttarakhand and areas near Lipulekh Pass is also moving at breakneck speed.

Furthermore, areas opposite Siang, Kameng, and other parts of Arunachal Pradesh are also witnessing increased activities, with earth-moving equipment working tirelessly.

There are no indications that the Chinese will de-escalate the ongoing standoff. Instead, they are consolidating whatever they have gained in the last three years by constructing permanent fixtures in these areas.

There is yet no sign of forward movement on the dates of the 19th round of Corps Commander level talks. The 18th round of Corps Commander talks ended without any meaningful resolution except both sides agreeing to continue discussions with each other.