- China has been conducting a rapid upgrade of military infrastructure throughout the Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh, including at least three new bridges, troop sheds and a new 66-kilometer highway.
By Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED FEBRUARY 25, 2021 12:22 PM IST
When the army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, spoke about the continuing deficit of trust with the People’s Liberation Army after the East Ladakh standoff, he was reflecting the situation on the ground along the Royal Line of Control (LAC) of 3,488 km with China undertaking a major upgrade of military infrastructure in the eastern sector.
Even in the western sector, apart from the ongoing Pangong Tso disengagement, there is no sign of reducing tension in the Gogra-Hot Springs area with PLA troops and weaponry amassed in Mabdo La via LAC. It is the same situation in the Depsang bulb area and in the entire Daulet Beg Oldi sector, even as military commanders from both sides work towards a roadmap to restore the status quo ante in East Ladakh LAC.
However, the concern of national security planners is the rapid infrastructure upgrades that the PLA is carrying out in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. There is evidence showing an increase in sheds for troops and equipment and better road communication through Naku La in North Sikkim. The PLA simultaneously transgressed in the Naku La sector in May 2020 with both armies engaging in fists. The PLA created Naku La as a sticking point about six years ago with the intention of conveying that while Beijing recognizes Sikkim as part of Indian territory, the border is not yet resolved.
The other area of concern is the rapid improvement of military infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district with the PLA building at least three new bridges, a new 66-kilometer highway, and troop sheds in the area.
“It is a cause for concern as it shows that the PLA is focusing on LAC despite disengaging from Pangong Tso. It clearly shows that the Indian army has to maintain vigilance along the unsettled border, including the central sector along Uttarakhand, ”said a senior official.
Although New Delhi and Beijing have held low-key talks between senior officials on both sides, Indian diplomats and security officials believe that India will have to prepare strategies to deal with both aggressive and friendly China and cannot afford to lower its guard. China continues to play behind the scenes in Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh after virtually trapping Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their debt trap under the guise of benign connectivity, a security official said.
The Chinese game plan goes beyond accessing the Indian Ocean with security ramifications for the Indian Navy by providing long sea stretches to Indian adversaries.
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