China takes steps to counter India’s hegemonic designs in Ladakh
Builds 200 new shelters between Aksai Chin and Siachen
Ladakh, December 04 (KMS): China is taking steps to counter India’s hegemonic designs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the border between India and China in Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has recently built more than 200 new shelters in the strategic area between Aksai Chin and the Siachen glacier, Indian media reported. These shelters have been built for the purpose of providing support to the Chinese soldiers present there in winter.
As per the Indian media, the PLA has built pre-fabricated shelters for the soldiers sitting about 15 to 18 km, like the Indian army has been installing in Siachen glacier. These shelters control the temperature and the soldiers can survive even in the bitter cold. There are military bases in the depth area to support these soldiers and provide them the military equipment. Most of these camps have been set up after Xi Jinping was elected president for a third term in October.
The Chinese army took possession of five areas of Ladakh in 2020, from where it has returned, but still remains in Depsang and Damchowk. Due to the presence of Chinese soldiers in Depsang, the Indian army is not able to go up to the traditional patrol points (PP) 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. In senior commander-level talks, India has been registering objections on Depsang and Damchowk. It is clear from the construction of new shelters in Depsang that the Chinese PLA has no intention of withdrawing from there in the near future.
This area is very important from a strategic point of view. It connects Aksai Chin with Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Here, China is working on building a highway under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Meanwhile, citing media reports that China has built shelters in the Depsang area in Ladakh, the Congress has questioned the Modi government’s “silence” over the issue and asked what steps were being taken by it to ensure status quo ante of April 2020. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate citing media reports said in the area of Depsang, China has built temperature-regulated “shelters” that help army personnel to be stationed permanently.
“Two hundred such shelters have been built by China in our territory 15-18 km inside the LAC (Line of Actual Control),” she said. Why has there not been a single statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government or the Ministry of External Affairs, Shrinate asked.
