US report says China has built critical military infrastructure since standoff with India in 2020

A military truck drives towards the Line of Actual Control in Leh. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Throughout 2023, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army took more coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region while accelerating the development of capabilities and concepts to enhance China’s ability to “fight and win wars” against “powerful enemies.” The military presence has not been reduced along the Line of Actual Control, and the confrontation with India in 2020 has also led to a significant and continued upgrade of military infrastructure.

“The Western Theater Command (WTC)’s primary mission is to ensure the security of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) border with India. In recent years, India and China’s differing views on border demarcation have led to multiple clashes, military build-ups and military infrastructure ,” said a report on China’s military and security developments submitted to the U.S. Congress in 2024. along the Line of Actual Control since the face-off.

Referring to the violent clashes in Galwan in June 2020, the report said that the PLA “has not reduced its positions or troop numbers since the 2020 clashes and has established infrastructure and support facilities to maintain multiple positions along the Line of Actual Control.” Brigade deployment”.

“These engagements coincide with significant and ongoing upgrades in military infrastructure to support a long-term presence at the Line of Actual Control,” the report said, referring to developments at the Line of Actual Control since the standoff.

In November, India and China reached an agreement to disengage and resume patrols in Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, the last two friction points in the 2020 standoff, returning to the status quo before April 2020.

The report noted that China has settled 11 land territorial disputes with six neighboring countries since 1998, and noted that over the past decade, China has adopted a “more coercive” approach to dealing with relevant maritime features. , maritime rights and other disputes.

In terms of overall preparedness, the report noted that the PLA continues to improve combined arms training methods and standards. “The training includes soldier activities from individual to collective, integrating reconnaissance, infantry, artillery, armor, engineers and signal forces,” the statement said. sub-large-scale exercises in training areas across the country. The report added that in 2020, PLA special operations forces from the Tibet Military Region were deployed on the border with India after the standoff.