Chinese military grade reinforced bunkers for storing ammunition. 2020 Maxar Technologies. High resolution here
Highlight
- Previous images indicate that the bunkers were not there in December 2019
- Images show road access bunkers to the Sinche-La pass
- It then connects to the road that runs through the Doklam plateau.
New Delhi:
Satellite images accessed by NDTV show the construction of what appear to be military grade hardened munitions bunkers, 2.5 kilometers from the Sinche-La pass, on the eastern periphery of the disputed Doklam plateau, near the border between Bhutan and China in the area.
Military observers say these fit the description of the ammunition storage facilities and their location, just 7 kilometers from Doka La, the site of the 2017 clash between Indian and Chinese forces, could indicate a higher level of preparedness. military by Chinese forces.
“The construction of new ammunition storage bunkers is likely to be aimed at reinforcing Chinese troops at these bases, allowing them to fight more efficiently should a conflict develop in Doklam,” says Sim Tack, a leading satellite imagery expert and analyst. Military Force. Analysis. “This is a worrying development, especially after the recent discovery of the Chinese village across the border in Bhutan, and it could point to new tensions in the Doklam area.”
Previous images from the same site accessed by NDTV indicate that construction on these bunkers had not started in December 2019. Recent images from October 28 this year indicate that construction is almost complete. “These appear to be reinforced storage shelters,” says Lieutenant General HS Panag (retired), former commander of the Northern Army. “Most likely it is an ammunition depot.”
A new munitions bunker facility has been built in China in less than a year. 2020 Maxar Technologies satellite image. For high resolution photos, click here and here
The construction of these facilities comes at a time when India and China are in the midst of their most serious confrontation since the 1962 war. Tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides have ducked for a winter confrontation in eastern Ladakh that It started in early May this year.
High-resolution images from Maxar Technologies indicate road access from the bunker site to the Sinche-La pass, which then connects to an all-weather highway built by Chinese workers that runs along the plateau of Doklam 5 kilometers wide.
The presence of these new bunkers, the black covering of the road on the Doklam plateau after the 2017 clash, the construction of a ‘village’ and a 9-kilometer track adjacent to the plateau are clear signs that China has no qualms. to carry Continue construction activity in the territory that Bhutan considers its own. India has historically backed Bhutan’s claim.
Location of reinforced bunkers near Sinche La, near the border between China and Bhutan. 2020 Maxar Technologies satellite image. For a high resolution photo, click here
The construction of the new reinforced bunkers appears to be an effort to militarily reinforce the larger Doklam region and the Chumbi Valley, Chinese territory, which lies to the north.
A September 2020 study by STRATFOR, the world’s leading geopolitical intelligence platform, says that the 2017 Doklam crisis “appears to have changed China’s strategic objectives, with China more than doubling its total number of air bases, positions of air defense and heliports near the border with India. the last three years “.
The precise location of these facilities has been detailed by satellite imagery expert Detresfa.
Following this exclusive around #Doklam, here is an enlarged visual area that does not cover #Chinathe invasion of #Bhutan but it also allows a better understanding of how the sector has strengthened over time to ensure the EPL’s ability to maintain its “territorial claims” https://t.co/9VSb0T1BrTpic.twitter.com/z8Glw5Cfes
– d-atis☠️ (@detresfa_) November 22, 2020
On Sunday, NDTV highlighted satellite images of a Chinese village called Pangda that lies 2.5 kilometers within the territorial limits of Bhutan, as defined by official maps from its National Bureau of Statistics.
Satellite images also show the presence of a 9-kilometer highway that extends beyond this town and could potentially be part of a plan to access the Zompelri line from the east.
Access to this ridge, China’s original target during the 2017 crisis, would allow its troops to have a clear line of sight to the “Chicken Neck”, the narrow stretch of land that connects the northeastern states of India with the rest. from the country.
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