Pangong Tso
Why in News:
- China is constructing a bridge in Eastern Ladakh connecting the North and South Banks of Pangong Tso which would significantly bring down the time for People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to move troops and equipment between the two sectors
About Pangong Tso Lake
- Pangong Tso is a long narrow, deep, endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft in the Ladakh Himalayas.
- The brackish water lake freezes over in winter.
- By itself, the lake does not have major tactical significance. But it lies in the path of the Chushul approach, one of the main approaches that China can use for an offensive into Indian-held territory.
- Indian assessments show that a major Chinese offensive, if it comes, will flow across both the north and south of the lake. During the 1962 war, this was where China launched its main offensive
The ground reality
- Only a third of the lake is controlled by India.
- The lake, a glacial melt, has mountain spurs of the Chang Chenmo range jetting down referred to as fingers.
- The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is said to be at finger 4 by the Chinese. However, India’s perceived LAC is at finger number eight. As a result, there are a lot of disagreements in the area.
How does it help China
- Earlier, the PLA had to take a roundabout crossing the Rudok county but now the bridge would provide a direct axis.
- The bridge will cut a 180-kilometer circuit from Khurnak to the south banks through Rudok, cutting the distance between Khurnak and Rudok to 40-50 kilometers instead of the previously stated 200 kilometers.
- The bridge will allow it to mobilize its forces in this area more quickly, in the hopes of avoiding a repeat of what happened in the August 2020 stand-off with India.
- The Indian Army gained tactical advantage over the PLA on the south bank in late August 2020 by occupying several peaks lying vacant since 1962 gaining a dominating view of the Moldo area.
How does it impact India
- Because the bridge is on Chinese territory, the Indian Army will have to adjust its operational plans accordingly.
- Road widening, bridge construction, new bases, airstrips, advance landing pads, and other infrastructure projects are not limited to the eastern Ladakh region, but are taking place in all three sectors of the India-China border (Eastern, Middle and Western).
Recent developments
- China’s new land border law took effect on January 1, 2022, at a time when the border conflict in eastern Ladakh remains unresolved and China has lately renamed several locations in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its claim on the Indian state.
To read about Indo-China standoffs-
Reference:
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-constructing-bridge-on-pangong-tso/article38101833.ece
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