The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has, for the first time, commissioned new modern soldier barracks and heavy artillery emplacement near the disputed China-India border in Tibet’s Ngari region as part of their “preparations for war” and “Concealment”, a state media report has said.
The permanent barracks have been built in the context of the ongoing border tension, replacing the older temporary housing facilities for the PLA border troops in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
It is possibly the first confirmation of satellite images released earlier this year, suggesting massive construction activity near the Royal Line of Control (LAC) in Ngari, including an aircraft base in Ngari prefecture.
Although they do not confirm the PLA deployment numbers, the report and photos give an indication of the size of the deployment, which is clearly large. The new facility is located at an altitude of almost 15,000 feet and could be close to one of the main fronts. battle during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
Ngari Prefecture borders India, Nepal, and China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), and is considered the most remote region of TAR; It is the prefecture with the lowest population density in China. Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are located in the prefecture.
Part of the Demchok area, a flash point in the China-India border dispute, is in the prefecture
Read also | China’s PLA complicates the withdrawal of troops from Ladakh. Has a condition
The report by national broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) did not share details on how long it took to build the barracks or when construction began, but said that various new construction techniques were used to build the facilities, indicating a time short construction.
The PLA released several photos of the new facility, showing the sprawling complex that includes massive buildings and facilities for storing artillery weapons.
“While facilitating the daily life of officers and soldiers as much as possible, the new generation of barracks also emphasizes the concept of service and preparation for war,” says the report published October 2 in Mandarin.
Giving details, the report says: “… the stairs and corridors in the officers and soldiers sleeping area have been widened to facilitate the rapid assembly of personnel; the warfare supplies warehouse and garages have been seamlessly connected to facilitate rapid loading and dispatch of troops in emergency situations. “
The report added that the commissioning of the new generation of barracks will also help shorten the plateau adaptation period needed by recruits and reduce the incidence of altitude sickness among guards and soldiers.
Also read: Post Ladakh, the PLA is no longer a ghost for the Indian army | Analysis
“… in view of the high-altitude and cold environment of the plateau, the design and construction of the new generation of barracks focuses on heat conservation, energy saving and concealment.”
Diplomats and military commanders from the two countries have held several rounds of talks to defuse tension on the border and withdraw troops since the current confrontation began in May.
The last virtual meeting of the Consultation and Coordination Working Mechanism (CMMC) on border issues, held last week, provided both parties with the opportunity to review the situation throughout LAC and to have “frank and detailed discussions” on the developments since the last meeting of the body. meeting on August 20, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Both the Indian statement and a reading in Mandarin from China’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides “positively assessed” the outcome of the sixth meeting of military commanders on September 21.
.
