Recent satellite imagery has unveiled significant military infrastructure development by China in the area surrounding Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, an area it has illegally occupied since the era of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) base at Sirjap, situated amidst mountains on the northern shore of Pangong Lake, serves as the headquarters for Chinese troops in the vicinity. It resides in an area claimed by India, approximately 5 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Until the standoff on the LAC began in May 2020, this area was nearly uninhabited.
Constructed during 2021-22, the base features underground bunkers for storing weapon systems, fuel, and supplies, as revealed by satellite images from BlackSky, a US-based firm. An image from May 30 distinctly shows eight sloping entrances to a sizable underground bunker and a smaller bunker with five entrances. The base also includes large buildings for headquarters operations and hardened shelters designed to protect armored vehicles from air strikes using precision-guided munitions.
An analyst from BlackSky, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “The base hosts an expanse of armored vehicle storage facilities, test ranges, and fuel and munitions storage buildings.” The current state of development includes artillery and other defensive positions reinforced by large berms, interconnected by an extensive network of roads and trenches not visible on publicly available mapping applications.
The base is situated approximately 120 km southeast of Galwan Valley, where a fierce clash in June 2020 resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops.
A former Indian Army commander, who served in the Pangong Lake region, commented, “In today’s battlefield, everything can be pinpointed using satellites or aerial surveillance platforms. We have no such underground shelters on our side. Tunnelling is the only way out to create better defenses.”
He added, “Without underground shelters, weapons and stores are sitting ducks for air strikes with precision-guided munitions. The Chinese are pioneers in tunnelling activities, and no hi-tech is required for these structures, just civil engineering skills and funds. Otherwise, we have to invest in more air defense equipment.”
Since the standoff began in 2020, India has significantly enhanced its border infrastructure, constructing roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields, and helipads for military mobility and logistics support. India’s infrastructure development has focused on better living conditions and improved facilities for soldiers, as well as the protection of weapons and equipment in forward areas. This push has been propelled by increased spending and swift execution of strategic projects, with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completing 125 infrastructure projects valued at Rs 3,611 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24, including the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh.
The developments at Pangong Lake coincide with increased activity by the Chinese military at the Shigatse air base in Tibet and the contentious Doklam tri-junction. Satellite images from earlier this year showed about half a dozen Chengdu J-20 stealth combat jets at Shigatse, and a more recent image from June 30 revealed at least two J-10 jets on the central apron.
The Shigatse base, approximately 300 km from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Hasimara base in West Bengal, houses a squadron of Rafale combat jets. Experts believe China’s deployment of the J-20s aims to counter the Rafales, among the IAF’s most advanced aircraft. The shift of J-20s from China’s coastal and inland provinces to Tibet underscores the strategic importance of the region.
On the Doklam plateau, satellite imagery reveals China’s maintenance of an intricate network of roads linking military infrastructure along the disputed border with India. A significant presence of military vehicles was observed at both a rear base and a forward position in an April satellite image.
In light of these developments, it is crucial to clarify that China’s current build-up at the LAC is in an area it has been illegally occupying since the tenure of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This historical context is vital for setting the record straight amidst misinformation and political discourse.
