New Delhi - An infrequent informal interaction between the key leaders of India and China has been overshadowed by a declaration from the Chinese foreign ministry that raises doubts. This statement dubiously claims that the initiation of the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping originated from New Delhi.
This assertion was countered by sources within India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), who clarified that the informal meeting occurred following a pending request for a bilateral discussion from China.
However, this incident is not an isolated case of questionable conduct on the part of China. Despite China's foreign ministry emphasizing the importance of upholding "peace and tranquillity in the border region" in a statement released recently, a fresh perspective on China's stance along its western borders has emerged through newly analyzed visual evidence from India Today's Open Source Investigation Team (OSINT).
In contrast to discussions about disengagement and de-escalation, recent satellite imagery acquired by India Today exposes rapid and ongoing construction of new military installations within the Aksai Chin region.
The meticulously detailed images, procured from Maxar Technologies, a U.S.-based space company, depict a swiftly expanding military facility complete with surveillance radars, emerging roads, and structures under construction spanning an area of almost 250 hectares.
Notably, these developments, located approximately 65 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), have materialized over the past few months, a period during which both nations have been engaged in border negotiations.
The construction at the new site appears to have peaked soon after the thaw earlier this year. The pictures captured on August 18 reveal a probable combination of PLA's YLC-4 and YLC-8 long-range surveillance radars.
Furthermore, the site includes multiple subterranean installations that hold the potential for strategic utilization by the Chinese military. The establishment of extensive, seemingly enduring military compounds in these areas raises concerns about the outlook for sustained peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the long term.
Although numerous structures such as roads, storage facilities, residential units, and administrative buildings seem to have reached completion, recent imagery, as recent as the past week, exposes ongoing construction operations, indicating that the site's expansion is still in progress.
The area remains active with various earth-moving machinery, substantial construction trucks, and cement mixing equipment visible, all situated at altitudes exceeding five thousand meters above sea level.
These constructions emerge against the backdrop of reports indicating the difficulties faced by PLA (People's Liberation Army) soldiers in adapting to the harsh environment and severe cold conditions in the region following the border standoff that began in May 2020.
The temporary encampments used for prolonged periods by the PLA forces in various nearby areas are now likely to be replaced by more permanent military complexes only a few kilometers away from the forward positions.
Recent satellite imagery showcases the interconnections of these facilities through paved roads. The heightened construction activity, particularly over the past three to four months, casts uncertainty on the prospects for lasting peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region.
There exists a significant possibility that despite a potential withdrawal of troops from the standoff points, the PLA will maintain a substantial military presence, conceivably larger than what existed before the standoff commenced. Moreover, the existence of diverse underground facilities with strategic potential for the Chinese armed forces adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.