Thread by @KesariDhwaj

- Here are some interesting points on the disengagement site discussed by @VishnuNDTV
- First, these Chinese posts are opposite PP15 in the side valley going north from Kugrang River.
- Its NOT in Gogra or Hot Springs region which have PP17A, PP17 and PP18
- Map in next tweet +

https://twitter.com/VishnuNDTV/status/1571076004965396481

- Overview of the Chang-Chenmo Sector.
- You can see PP15&16, Chinese claim line (red) and location of the Chinese site under discussion.
- The LAC here is not in dispute here and this is the first time Chinese have created claim extending across their 1959 claim line and LAC +

+ Why were the Chinese acting antsy here?
- Because PP15 leads directly to upper reaches of Galwan river (blue line) which has large Chines presence.
- Chinese fear Indian attack along this axis.
- Forget direct assault; even Indian artillery placed in Kugrang Valley can +

+ hit Chinese positions.
- Kugrang valley is formed by Kugrang River starting from mountains NW of PP16, included PP16 and extends to PP17.
- Just south of PP17, Kugrang River merges with Chang Chenmo river coming from east and flowing alongside Gogra.
+

+ This is close-up of the Chinese Army position in the upper reaches of Galwan River.
- This serves as a base to support Chinese positions opposite PP14 where clash took place in 2020.
- If this base goes, Chinese lose entire Galwan River valley!
- Also, if IA takes this place +

+ it can use it as a base to turn right/east and gain access to Aksai Chin.
- See the map below.
- Long story short, the Chinese are quite paranoid about Indian presence and threat emanating from this area.
+

- Coming to the post under discussion, it is ~3km behind the Chinese claim line and LAC in this sector.
- I know @VishnuNDTV hasn't mentioned the location of LAC in his report, but the alignment of the Chinese claim line is not exactly a secret.
- So, Chinese have dismantled a +

+ on their side of claim line.
- Satellite from September 2020 on GE shows what was the actual intrusion here; the Chinese came few hundred meters on our side and pitched tents.
+

+ In this close-up, you can see where the Chinese had put-up temporary infra.
- Since this satellite image is of 18 Sep 2020, it also means that the Chinese had gone back within couple of months of stand-off.
- Interestingly, IA did Snow Leopard ops in early Sep 2020!
+

+ This is the satellite image from Sep 2020 of the site discussed by @VishnuNDTV on his program.
- It seems the site was prepared in 2020 itself but not occupied.
- There was another smaller post to its west, across the river here. Present status of this post is not known +

+ This is a recent satellite image of the same post from Apple but the date is not known to me.
- You can see trucks parked in the berm covered area.
- The smaller post is also visible to the west.
+

- This screengrab from @VishnuNDTV's program shows much higher level of development in as of August 2022.
+

- Now comes the interesting point
- @VishnuNDTV said that the post has been relocated ~3km to rear.
- Which means, the Chinese have effectively agreed to ~6km of buffer on their side of the claim line!
---xxxx---

Adding one correction from NDTV - the satellite image they've shared of the Chinese post (in use by the Chinese) is from August 2021 and not August 2022.

https://twitter.com/VishnuNDTV/status/1571327103139983361?s=20&t=xwbLWx-LhD35ZNDMut038w