An army truck moves towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid ongoing India-China border tensions in eastern Ladakh. File
The US Congress’s annual report highlights that throughout 2023, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) engaged in increasingly coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, while also investing in its military capabilities to enhance its readiness for potential conflicts. This report emphasizes that along the LAC, China has maintained a significant military presence, and the tensions that escalated in 2020 continue to be marked by intensified military infrastructure development.
The report notes that the Western Theatre Command’s main objective is to secure China’s border with India. It points out that differing perceptions of border lines between India and China have led to numerous confrontations, troop buildups, and extensive infrastructure development along the border.
In reference to the violent clash at Galwan in June 2020, the report indicates that the PLA has not reduced its troop presence or positions since the incident and has built substantial infrastructure to support its long-term deployment along the LAC.
The report emphasizes a significant escalation in military infrastructure aimed at solidifying the PLA’s long-term presence in the region.
In November, India and China reached a pivotal agreement to disengage and resume patrolling in the Demchok and Depsang regions of Eastern Ladakh, effectively returning to the status quo before April 2020.
Since 1998, China has resolved 11 land-based territorial disputes with neighboring countries, yet over the past decade has adopted a more coercive tactic not only regarding maritime disputes but also concerning land border issues and access to potentially valuable offshore resources.
The report further asserts that the PLA has been enhancing its collective training methodologies for combined arms units, covering individual to group soldier activities that integrate various military disciplines. This advancement is complemented by continuous deployments along the Indian border and large-scale military exercises across various training areas throughout China. Notably, in 2020, PLA Special Operations Forces were deployed to the border region following the standoff.
Published – December 19, 2024 11:07 pm IST
