Military Veterans Raise Concerns Over China’s New Bridge Across Pangong Lake

Military veterans have voiced significant apprehension over a newly operational bridge constructed by the Chinese army that connects the north and south banks of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. This area lies within the territory claimed by India, and the bridge’s completion has sparked fears that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is solidifying a new status quo in the region, forcing India to acquiesce.

Recent satellite images reveal the completion of a 400-meter bridge, now operational, with light motor vehicles crossing it. Security experts warn that this development grants China a strategic edge, enabling rapid movement of PLA troops between the two banks of Pangong Lake.

“It is a matter of extreme concern for India. The bridge enhances connectivity between China’s forward and depth forces, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to solidifying its territorial claims against India by modifying the landscape to its advantage,” commented a former major general.

The completion of this bridge is seen as a clear indication of the PLA’s intent to enforce a new status quo in eastern Ladakh. India and China have been locked in a border standoff since May 2020, with Pangong Lake being one of several flashpoints where the PLA has made incursions.

Since May 2020, violent skirmishes between Indian and Chinese soldiers have occurred along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Notably, the Galwan Valley clash, which is situated north of Pangong Lake, resulted in the deaths of twenty Indian soldiers.

“Reports suggest that the bridge is capable of supporting heavy military equipment, such as tanks and armoured personnel carriers. It will enable the PLA to rapidly deploy troops and equipment, enhancing its operational efficiency and logistical support in the region,” said a former lieutenant general.

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Another retired colonel highlighted that the Chinese army has fortified its positions at multiple transgression points in eastern Ladakh, reinforcing its hold and pressuring India to accept a revised interpretation of the Line of Actual Control.

“The PLA is forcing India to agree to its reinterpretation of the Line of Actual Control. India’s capitulation has made the restoration of the pre-April 2020 status quo difficult,” he remarked.

Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “China has built a bridge that connects the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. It has serious strategic consequences for India as it allows China to quickly move troops from one bank of the lake to the other. It provides strategic dominance to China of the Pangong Lake sector. Through its silence, the GOI is enabling China to create new facts on the ground on a daily basis. Parliament should discuss this now.”

The bridge’s construction near Pangong Lake was first reported in January 2022. At that time, India’s foreign ministry condemned the construction, asserting that the bridge was being built in areas under illegal Chinese occupation for about 60 years—a stance India has never accepted.

Officials in India’s defence ministry declined to comment on the new bridge. To date, 21 rounds of military talks have taken place between the two armies, accumulating over 270 hours of discussions since the initial talks on June 6, 2020, amidst Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion of a “no-intrusion” stance.

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