Raising concerns for India, China has not reduced its stepped-up major military deployments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) not only in Eastern Ladakh but in the middle (Uttarakhand) and eastern (Northeast) sectors as well, the Pentagon has said in its latest annual report on China's overall military power.

 

 

 

Titled, 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China', the report said China continues to develop border infrastructure like underground storage facilities, roads, dual-use villages, airfields and helipads. It also said that China has deployed its special forces along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

 

It says, "In 2022, China continued to develop military infrastructure along the LAC. These improvements include underground storage facilities near Doklam, new roads in all three sectors of the LAC, new villages in disputed areas in neighboring Bhutan, a second bridge over Pangong Lake, a dual-purpose airport near the center sector, and multiple helipads."

 

"China deployed one border regiment, supported by two divisions of Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts with four combined arms brigades (CAB) in reserve in the western sector of the LAC. China also deployed as many as three light-to-medium CABs in the eastern sector from other theatre commands and an additional three CABs in the central sector of the LAC."

 

"Although some elements of a light CAB eventually withdrew, a majority of the deployed forces remain in place along the LAC," it added.

 

 

Earlier this month, India and China held the 20th round of Corps Commander-level talks, agreeing to carry on with a reduced winter deployment, and aim to work out a plan for the summer. It said negotiations between India and China made "minimal progress as both sides resisted losing perceived advantages on the border".

 

 

The report said China now has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads, surpassing earlier projections, and is on course to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035.

 

“Over the next decade, the People’s Republic of China will continue to rapidly modernise, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces. DoD estimates that the PRC possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 on track to exceed previous projections,” the Pentagon report said.

 

The report comes ahead of an expected meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to be held in San Francisco in November.