New Delhi: China has completed construction of a strategic bridge over Pangong Tso, which is at Khornak, the narrowest part of the lake, which spans Ladakh and Tibet. It is now building roads to connect one of its largest military posts in the region, the latest satellite images show.
In January this year, ThePrint informed of That the Indian Defense and Security Establishment had found that a bridge was being built on the northern side of Pangong Tso with pre-fabricated structures.
Sources had said that it was being built to counter any future move by the Indian Army on the lines of its August 2020 operation, which led to the capture of dominating heights On the southern bank of Pangong Tso.
The bridge, which was completed in the first week of April, will cut a 180-kilometer loop through Rutog County in Tibet from Khurnak to the south coast, where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has an important outpost.
The latest satellite imagery of the locations shows that the Chinese have now started road construction work as well.
Satellite imagery specialist Damier Simon, popularly known by his Twitter handle @detresfa_, posted the picture saying that road work has begun for Rutog to connect to the bridge, to ensure that Chinese troops move quickly. Can grow
Further developments of the new Chinese bridge #pangongtsoRecent imagery shows that roadwork has begun (as mapped in the quoted tweet) to join the bridge most likely Rutog, giving #ChinaPLA personnel in the area rapidly connect with the area https://t.co/xLDhDTefvL pic.twitter.com/ELwWr6xE1N
— Damien Simon (@detresfa_) 2 May 2022
The PLA had previously taken the initiative to cut the road off the bridge, and the road would add a new route for rapid deployment of troops and material.
Explaining why the Chinese were building the bridge, a source said in January, “They have probably learned a lesson and since they are quick to take remedial measures, a number of steps have been taken to ensure that the speed up their movement through the field and give them the potential to increase attendance in a big way”.
Read also: China’s Pangong Tso Bridge Cannot Be Combatted With Panic Or Controversy
infrastructure build-up
While the standoff on the southern bank of Pangong Tso continued, between September 2020 and mid-2021, the Chinese built a new road to the Moldo garrison to bypass the visibility arc of Indian troops and equipment at advantageous heights. ,
As informed of Previously by ThePrint, China had accelerated building its infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) even during the standoff. This included the construction of new roads, surface-to-air missile sites, heliports and housing among others.
India has also done building infrastructure Along with the construction of new roads, tunnels, underground ammunition depots and addition of new war equipment along the LAC.
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)