China, India border dispute could flare again after China builds structures in Galwan Valley

[Vanguard One]

Satellite imagery taken this week shows Chinese vehicles and construction in the Galwan Valley, near the India border.(Reuters/Maxar)

One week after a deadly border clash between Chinese and Indian troops in Ladakh, in the Kashmir region, new satellite images show Chinese structures have been built and that there are vehicles in the area.

Key points:

• One week ago 20 Indian soldiers were killed during clashes in the disputed region
• Satellite images appear to show that China has built structures and has trucks in the area
• India says the area where China has built the structures is on its side of the border

Indian and Chinese military commanders had agreed on Monday to step back from a weeks-old standoff at several locations along their disputed border

The new construction activity on the Chinese side is heightening concerns about further flare-ups between the nuclear-armed neighbours after the last incident in the Galwan Valley, on June 15, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

The pictures shot on Monday by US-based space technology firm Maxar Technologies show what appear to be extensive Chinese structures on a raised river terrace overlooking the river.

India says the area where the structures have sprung up are on its side of the poorly defined border.

A Maxar satellite image shows road construction near the line of actual control border in the eastern Ladakh sector of Galwan Valley June 22, 2020.(Reuters/Maxar)
On Thursday India's foreign ministry accused China of escalating tensions and being in violation of bilateral agreements.

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"At the heart of the matter is that since early May the Chinese side had been amassing a large contingent of troops and armaments along the LAC," ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in New Delhi.

"This is not in accordance with the provisions of our various bilateral agreements."

China says the whole of Galwan Valley, located at about 4,300m above sea level is its territory and blames Indian troops for triggering the clashes.

The new activity includes camouflaged tents or covered structures against the base of a cliff, and a short distance away, a potential new camp under construction with walls or barricades.

These images, the left taken on May 22 and the right taken on June 22 show Chinese activity in the disputed Galwan Valley, the latest taken less than a week after deadly clashes with Indian troops.(Reuters/Maxar)
The camp was not seen in pictures made available to Reuters the previous week.

Nathan Ruser, a satellite data expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the build-up suggested there was little sign of de-escalation.

"Satellite imagery from the Galwan Valley on June 22nd shows that 'disengagement' really isn't the word that the (Indian) Government should be using," he said in a post on Twitter.


Nathan Ruser@Nrg8000
Satellite imagery from the Galwan Valley on June 22nd shows that 'disengagement' really isn't the word that the government should be using. This gif shows the small outpost that sparked the June 15th clashes. It has grown hugely in size. Indian troops aren't dismantling this one.



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10:54 PM - Jun 24, 2020
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On the Indian side, defensive barriers can be seen in the latest images which were not visible in pictures taken in May.

An Indian forward post appears to be scaled back compared with images from a month ago.


The lower arrow marks the line of control, the top arrow the Indian forward post, while the outpost at the centre of the earlier dispute was reportedly on the opposite side of the river to the line of control.(Reuters/Maxar)
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the apparent activity.

Indian military officials have previously said they will be closely monitoring the planned disengagement process and verify it on the ground.

"There is a trust deficit so far as the Chinese are concerned," said former Indian army chief Deepak Kapoor.

"So if they are telling us verbally they are ready to pull back, we will wait to see it on the ground. Until then the armed forces will be on alert."

Reuters/ABC

Posted Yesterday

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06...-india-border-ladakh-kashmir-dispute/12394664

 

[Figaro]

Lol sure tensions would flare up but what can India do at this point? It will take some time for the Indians to recover from the smack down they received on June 15.

 

[Mrc]

Yeah to lolwa ho gya rey

 

[52051]

China take land whilst India conquer twitter, if things keep this way, I don't see any conflicts between the two anytime soon.

 

[Han Patriot]

China take land whilst India conquer twitter, if things keep this way, I don't see any conflicts between the two anytime soon.

Realise how the article says India retreated back and scaled down. Hahahaah

 

[52051]

Realise how the article says India retreated back and scaled down. Hahahaah

Seriously speaking, not sure about the true intention of China this time, but all facts so far suggest we certainly don't have any intention to cool the situation down, I expect a war between China and India will occur within at most 3 year time, with China get a decisive victory (gulf-war style) and solve the problem completely, its a good time to see military hardware developed all these years put in good use as a military fan