Map of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Aksai Chin is shown in red, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in green. (Map not to scale.)
New Delhi: China is building tunnels and bunkers just 70 kilometres from the line of actual control in Aksai Chin, at least two media outlets have reported referring to Maxar Technologies-provided high-resolution satellite photos, on Tuesday. The reports, published on NDTV and Hindustan Times, say this development shows that China is ramping up their border infrastructure to protect their troops and equipment from Indian strikes in the event of a conflict between the two countries.
This revelation comes close to the heels of China releasing its so-called “standard map” where it shows Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh as its territories and India’s observation that China is raising border settlements all along the LAC, including sensitive areas in Arunachal Pradesh.
Read also: China building villages near LAC even in sensitive areas
In its story, HT reported that between December 6, 2021, and August 18, 2023, China appears to have built fortified bunkers for troops at three locations. It has also analysed that China is digging tunnels or have completed the digging in at least three more locations in the region, which is of approximately 15 square kilometres in size.
China is building reinforced bunkers & underground facilities in Aksai Chin, 70 km from LAC, experts say move aims to ensure survivability of crucial assets & command posts. Reporting with new satellite images from @Maxar pic.twitter.com/KfWtqPmdY3
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) August 30, 2023
Meanwhile, the NDTV report said the latest images, from August 18, show four such bunkers being built along the valley face along with three “tunnel areas”. Each area has two to five openings of tunnels, which are dug into the hillside.
The report also notes that heavy excavators are also visible in the photos at multiple locations in the area. Analysing the photos, the report concluded that a key road that cuts across the valley has also been “substantially” widened.
Further analysing the photos, the NDTV report said the earth has been raised around the bunkers to “provide additional protection” from direct attacks.
Striking image in our report on China going underground in Aksai Chin - the clearest image of tunnel construction. The depth, length of these unclear - are these reinforced shelters or a full fledged subterranean command and control complex?https://t.co/KZ5Fn79e0U
— Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) August 30, 2023
📸:@Maxar pic.twitter.com/wIRoepPGyl
It may be noted that in March 2020, Chinese troops crossed over to the Indian side of the LAC and squatted on a vast swath of strategic Indian territory in eastern Ladakh. After India’s resistance and efforts to push them back, in June 2020, troops from both the countries engaged in a mediaeval fists-and-clubs fight at the Galwan valley without resorting to firearms, which resulted the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers.
Since the incident, both sides have deployed tens of thousands of troops and heavy military equipment in preparation for a conflict.
So far, all diplomatic efforts and several rounds of corps commander-level military talks to urge China to restore the pre-March 2020 status quo of the border and diffuse the tension has been futile. Currently, Chinese troops are believed to be in control of over 4,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. A report by the top police officer in Ladakh said India has lost access to 26 out of 65 patrolling points at the LAC that its troops used to go up to.
Read also: Report says ‘India lost 26 out of 65 patrolling points’ near LAC in eastern Ladakh
Experts are looking at China’s latest tunnelling and bunker-building activities at Aksai Chin as a countermeasure to the Indian Air Force’s advantage of operating warplanes in the region. It is because the India jets have major bases at much lower altitudes, like Srinagar in Kashmir, which enables them to carry more weapons and fuel. Some of those experts also see this as a sign that China believes that an armed conflict with India over the disputed border is inevitable and these preparations are a precursor to it.
Indian and Chinese troops are also on high alert along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. There have been Chinese land-grab attempts in the Tawang sector, which led to non-fatal clashes between troops of the two countries.
Read also: Indian, Chinese troops clash again at LAC in Arunachal
