India Deploys High Altitude Warfare Troops In Eastern Ladakh To Counter China’s PLA
Report By Nandika Chand | Kashmir Srinagar | Last Updated at May 27 2020
With escalations between the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) highly possible, India has deployed high altitude warfare troops in Eastern Ladakh. This comes after speculations that China has strengthened its side of the LAC with 5,000 soldiers. The lastest development comes after the 2017 Doklam standoff.
Experts have pointed out that both countries have substantial and growing military deployments along the disputed border as peace can no longer be taken for granted. Moreover, the rising military tensions between China and India, Beijing plans to evacuate its citizens from India with chartered flights from early next month. A senior government official said China is staring at the world for domination at all costs.
Officials said India favors de-escalation on the LAC through mutual respect and dialogue under the peace and tranquility mechanism in place. Analysts said the Chinese dominance and deterrence posture in the DBO sector is an effort by the PLA to prevent India from executing its rapid border infrastructure building plan. China claims that India has illegal trespassed the LAC and Indian media reports claim that Chinese troops intruded in thousands, pitched tents and dug trenches. Reports highlight that on May 9, in the Naku La region at an altitude of 15,000 feet, Chinese and Indian soldiers came to blows and threw stones at each other. Several Indian soldiers, including a senior officer, were injured.
Furthermore, the Indian government claims that the Chinese army, between 2016 and 2018, crossed into Indian territory 1,025 times. With skirmishes spiking, India cannot deny the fact that China’s military is stronger than ever. According to Global Firepower, an online military analysis platform, the PLA (including the army, navy and air force) has been listed as the world’s third most powerful military in 2019, close at the heels of the US and Russia. The PLA, with 21.8 million active personnel, is swiftly catching up with Washington and Moscow’s technological prowess.
