Thread by @VHang_VG

#indiachinastandoff THREAD:
Our & Chinese army have been in standoff for almost 2 months now. There are 3 locations where two armies are face to face right on LAC (and in some cases even beyond that).
1. Galwan Valley (Patrol Point 14)
2. Hot Springs
3. Pangong Tso

1. #GalwanValley
Galwan valley is of very high strategic importance to both India & China. It is the gateway to Aksai Chin which is claimed entirely by India but occupied by China. Galwan valley was one of the major battles of 1962 war.
#indiachinastandoff

Interestingly, post-1962, there have been no military face-offs vis-a-vis the region. That is, until now. Around 15th June, this region blew to headlines after deadly brawl between Indian and Chinese troops. There is no official breakdown of events, so let's look at the issue.

#GalwanValley
The far left of this image shows the Shyok river & recently constructed road by India leading to Daulat Beg airstrip. The narrow pass marked with Indian positions leading to LAC is known as Galwan valley. Approximate clash location is near PatrolPoint14 close to LAC

Patrol Point 14 is the point right on the LAC till where status quo was maintained since 1962. Both troops used to patrol till LAC but no structures were created in close to LAC which is the norm alongside LAC. Armies patrol up to LAC with closes structures being 2-3 km inside.

Now during that standoff, Chinese army brought troops and vehicles right till the LAC and built a camp at Patrol Point 14, which was few metres inside India territory. In response, India also set up camps close to the patrol point 14 near the ultimate clash site.

Senior officials from both sides had met & it was reportedly agree to return back to status quo and withdraw from new advanced positions. On June 15, Indian army apparently found no sign of withdrawal from the Chinese and went ahead to ask them to follow the agreed deal.

The sequence of events of what transpired thereon is open to interpretation; but these are the after images from the clash site.

Advanced positions of both sides have been dismantled. Though Chinese have seemingly bought in huge reinforcements inside their territory few metres off LAC, apart from the huge line of trucks visible there is also presence of machinery working to stop flow of water to India side

The most possible understanding of the Galwan valley standoff is the Chinese urgency to keep track of India's movement to Daulat Beg via the ridgelines of Galwan. From positions on the ridgeline , Chinese forces would be able to clearly see all traffic going to Daulat Beg.

In the end, current situation shows no Chinese occupation of Indian territory in #GalwanValley and both sides stepping back few steps after recent deadly clash.

Moving to 2nd of the #indiachinastandoff positions:
#HotSprings
Satellite imagery recently revealed that Chinese troops had been regularly crossing over to Indian territory. As seen in the pic, a well established dirt track and patrol route can be clearly seen encroaching here.

After been made aware of these advances India quickly started setting up permanent establishment overlooking that part of LAC. By building these positions India has now advanced 8-10 kms further towards LAC in this region from the previous closest positions in response to China.

In response to this construction by India, China has set up 12 towed artillery equipment pointed directly at the construction.

Again here, though there is heavy aggression on both sides, "CURRENTLY" no Chinese troops are on Indian territory.

Now coming to 3rd and most serious standoff in #indiachinastandoff:
3. Pangong Tso

Let's understand the history of the area & existing status quo before this stand off.

Pangong Tso is understood by barren mountains on the lake’s northern bank, called the Chang Chenmo, jut forward in major spurs, which the Army calls “fingers”. Here you can see fingers 1-8.

India claims our LAC is till Finger 8; China claims there LAC is till finger 4.

India has it's most advance camp at finger 3. Chinese TILL NOW had their farthest camp till finger 8.

Both sides regularly patrolled between Finger 4-8 trying to stake their claims.

Patrol is done in this region both by boat and by troops on land.

Now during Kargil war in 1999, China took advantage of distracted and preoccupied India and built a road right till Finger 4 from Finger 8.

Indian army still had road till Finger 3 only.

Indian troops patrolled from Finger 3 to Finger 5 at least and sometimes beyond on foot and were met by Chinese patrolling in their vehicles. Lot of altercations have happened in this area with the most intense one happening in 2017 when both armies brawled at Finger 4 beach.

Note: video of that brawl from 2017 was recently being circulated as that of Galwan Valley clash.

Now starting in May, China started building huge infrastructure between Finger 4 and Finger 5 at mammoth speed. It's freakish to see how much have they built since.

There are now 62 new positions in this area & 300+ structures! Yes, in about a month's time!
#PangongTso

This clear cut alteration of status quo where till now Chinese and Indians had only used this disputed area between finger 4-8 for patrolling. Now there is clear cut Chinese dug in positions here.

The beach where 2017 brawl happened is now an very advanced Chinese position with about a dozen dug in structures and anchored boats.
#PangongTso #indiachinastandoff

Along-with this infrastructure, Chinese have also built 19 (NINETEEN!!) positions along the ridgeline of Finger 4 which include pillbox (reference image attached) & ditches that have been constructed unambiguously beyond the ridgeline into Indian controlled territory.

Now, concerned by this alteration from Chinese, India has also built up a camp few metres off Finger 4 ridgeline.
This has resulted in potentially very inflammable situation with forces so close to each other in eyeballing situation.

To put things into perspective, if we go by India's CLAIMED LAC which runs till finger 8 then Chinese now have thousands of troop in Indian territory and hundreds of positions. This by all means end of India's claim to disputed territory and Chinese takeover of the same.

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