China building bridge along Pangong Tso: Image tweeted vt @detresfa_  |  Photo Credit: Twitter
New Delhi: Satellite images by geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon have shown that China is building a bridge across the north and south banks of Pangong Tso. In a tweet, Symon shared satellite imagery, which confirmed that the Chinese are constructing a bridge connecting the two banks of Pangong Tso and the work is near-complete.
“Media reports of #PangongTso allege a new bridge is under construction connecting the north & south bank of the lake, in turn enhancing road connectivity for #China’s troops in the area, GEOINT of the area identifies the location & progress of the alleged structure,” Symon said in a tweet.
According to reports, China is also building roads along the Pangong Tso area as well as Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO).
The development comes even as Indian and Chinese troops are maintaining a heavy presence in the area amid an ongoing standoff between the two armies. According to reports, over 60,000 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops are deployed opposite the Indian territory in eastern Ladakh.
The Indian Army has also maintained a heavy presence in the area and deployed counter-terrorism forces including the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) along the LAC.
India and China have been engaged in an over 20-month standoff along the LAC. The two sides have held several rounds of diplomatic, as well as military-to-military talks but have failed to break the deadlock through dialogue.
In December, Symon had shared satellite images showing PLA military developments opposite Sikkim. With the help of satellite photographs, he had claimed that the Chinese are enhancing PLA positions with ‘new posts closer to the border, supported by freshly constructed/improved roads, regular exercises & drills along with large deployments of troops’.