Bunkers, roads, dwelling units in eastern sector of LAC besides Ladakh

While efforts are on to resolve the seven-month-old stand-off through sustained dialogue, China continues with infrastructure development all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Military ammunition bunkers, roads and prefabricated dwelling units have come up in eastern sector of the LAC besides Ladakh.

These developments come at a time when the two sides are preparing for the ninth round of Corps Commander-level talks soon. While both the commanders reiterated their commitment to continue talks, China’s aggressive infrastructure push has alarmed the Indian security establishment.

Earlier, rapid construction was only confined to Ladakh sector of the LAC in the backdrop of the face-offs.  However, the furious pitch of work in the East in Doklam near Sikkim is a cause of serious concern, sources said here on Monday.

The Doklam region saw more than 70-day long face-off in 2017 after India objected to construction of a road by China there. The issue was resolved after intense negotiations at the diplomatic and military levels.

In the latest developments, satellite images show construction of hardened ammunition bunkers, two kilometers from Sinche-La (pass) on the eastern periphery of the Doklam plateau near the border between Bhutan and China.

The new structures will enable the Chinese troops to withstand intense cold there and face any challenge with sufficient logistical support, sources said here.

High-resolution images from Maxar Technologies indicate road access from the site of the bunkers to the Sinche-La pass, which is then connected to an all-weather road constructed by Chinese workers that stretches across the 5 kilometre-wide Doklam plateau.

The new bunkers and construction of the road on the Doklam plateau after the stand-off in 2017, the construction of a “village” and 9-kilometre track adjacent to the plateau are strong indications that China has no hesitation in construction activity in territory which Bhutan claims to be its own.

A September 2020 study by STRATFOR, the world’s leading geopolitical intelligence platform, said the 2017 Doklam crisis “appears to have shifted China’s strategic objectives, with China more than doubling its total number of air bases, air defence positions and heliports near the Indian border over the past three years.”

Moreover, China has adopted a new modus operandi to avoid detection by building beautiful homes, recreational facilities and roads as part of its so-called civil projects near the LAC.

Sources said these smartly camouflaged homes are mini military stations with local population not welcome near these structures.  Most of these dwelling units have come up near the Torsa river on the Bhutan-China border near the Doklam plateau.

These construction activities are besides China ramping up its road network in the entire Tibetan plateau region.  Moreover, it is also upgrading its key five airfields in the region to enable the Chinese air force fighter jets to take off and land.  These airfields are close to the LAC in the Ladakh region.

Taking note of these activities, sources said India cannot take any chances in slackening its operational readiness to deal with any threat. Also, it has completed all preparations for its troops to be deployed during the winter months in Ladakh as the talks so far have failed to break the logjam.

At present, more than one lakh troops from both the armies are facing each other at the 1,700 km long LAC in Ladakh sector.  Moreover, both the armies have dug in for a long haul during the winter months when the temperatures dip to minus 20 to 30 degrees.