India: China “illegal construction” in the disputed area

This is the second and sturdier bridge among the two bridges built by China across Pangong Tso Lake.

Rohit Gupta, a retired general of the Indian army, confirmed that the new bridge can withstand the load of tanks and armored personnel carriers, allowing China to deploy troops between the two countries. riverbank faster.

According to Gupta, the new bridge will shorten the 130km distance between the south and north shores of Pangong Tso Lake and this is part of an effort to narrow India’s tactical advantage in the region.

Ladakh was a “hot spot” between India and China in mid-2020, when violent conflicts left 20 Indian soldiers and 5 Chinese soldiers dead, according to official figures released by the two governments. announced.

Pangong Tso, disputed territory between India and China. Photo: Reuters

Pangong Tso Lake is a disputed territory between Beijing and New Delhi. China has controlled two-thirds of the lake since the 1960s while India controls the rest.

“We have received reports of a Chinese-built bridge over Pangong Tso Lake along with their previous bridge. Both of these bridges are located in an area illegally occupied by China since the 1960,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters last week.

“We have never accepted the illegal occupation of our territory, nor have we accepted China’s claims or illegal construction activities,” he stressed.

Arindam Bagchi, spokesman for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Photo: Twitter