<p>China’s construction of two bridges across the Pangong Tso in Ladakh is of serious concern to India. Reports of the first bridge emerged in January. It was said then that the bridge, which linked the strategic lake’s north and south banks, would facilitate faster movement of People’s Liberation Army troops between the Kurnak Fort garrison on the north bank and the Moldo garrison on the south bank. A few weeks ago, an American geospatial intelligence researcher posted satellite images of a second Chinese bridge at Pangong Tso. This one is said to be “bigger, broader” than the first one. It is believed that the first bridge was built to transport men and material for construction of the second bridge. Army officials have said that the second bridge is strong enough to support larger and heavier movement, including of armoured columns. The construction of the bridges is worrying; its objectives appear to be aimed at supporting offensive PLA action in the Himalayas. Two years after China initiated deployment of troops and weaponry on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, Chinese soldiers remain at several ‘flash points’. Fifteen rounds of talks between the military officials of the two sides and many parleys at the political level have taken place, and yet the standoff remains unresolved and tensions continue to be high. When this is the situation at the LAC in Ladakh, China’s construction of bridges that are clearly meant for offensive operations there is highly provocative and deeply worrying.</p>.<p>Although it is claimed that the bridges are on the Chinese side of the LAC, it must be noted that this is essentially territory that China illegally occupied decades ago. The Ministry of External Affairs has rightly taken note of this “illegal occupation of our territory”, giving up the earlier reluctance of the Narendra Modi government to acknowledge the situation on the LAC. It may be recalled that days after the clashes at Galwan that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in June 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had denied that the Chinese had intruded into Indian territory or taken over Indian posts at the LAC. Since then, the government has been parsimonious with the truth on what is happening at the LAC. It has neither shared with the public nor taken the Opposition into confidence on India’s situation at the LAC.</p>.<p>Security analysts have been claiming that India has lost territory to the Chinese in Ladakh in recent years but the government has been silent on the matter. Hopefully, the MEA’s acknowledgement of the Chinese bridges at Pangong Tso will lead to long-overdue sharing of information on the situation along the LAC. </p>
<p>China’s construction of two bridges across the Pangong Tso in Ladakh is of serious concern to India. Reports of the first bridge emerged in January. It was said then that the bridge, which linked the strategic lake’s north and south banks, would facilitate faster movement of People’s Liberation Army troops between the Kurnak Fort garrison on the north bank and the Moldo garrison on the south bank. A few weeks ago, an American geospatial intelligence researcher posted satellite images of a second Chinese bridge at Pangong Tso. This one is said to be “bigger, broader” than the first one. It is believed that the first bridge was built to transport men and material for construction of the second bridge. Army officials have said that the second bridge is strong enough to support larger and heavier movement, including of armoured columns. The construction of the bridges is worrying; its objectives appear to be aimed at supporting offensive PLA action in the Himalayas. Two years after China initiated deployment of troops and weaponry on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, Chinese soldiers remain at several ‘flash points’. Fifteen rounds of talks between the military officials of the two sides and many parleys at the political level have taken place, and yet the standoff remains unresolved and tensions continue to be high. When this is the situation at the LAC in Ladakh, China’s construction of bridges that are clearly meant for offensive operations there is highly provocative and deeply worrying.</p>.<p>Although it is claimed that the bridges are on the Chinese side of the LAC, it must be noted that this is essentially territory that China illegally occupied decades ago. The Ministry of External Affairs has rightly taken note of this “illegal occupation of our territory”, giving up the earlier reluctance of the Narendra Modi government to acknowledge the situation on the LAC. It may be recalled that days after the clashes at Galwan that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in June 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had denied that the Chinese had intruded into Indian territory or taken over Indian posts at the LAC. Since then, the government has been parsimonious with the truth on what is happening at the LAC. It has neither shared with the public nor taken the Opposition into confidence on India’s situation at the LAC.</p>.<p>Security analysts have been claiming that India has lost territory to the Chinese in Ladakh in recent years but the government has been silent on the matter. Hopefully, the MEA’s acknowledgement of the Chinese bridges at Pangong Tso will lead to long-overdue sharing of information on the situation along the LAC. </p>
