China Deploys 20,000 Troops Along LAC, India Watching PLA Division In Xinjiang

China has deployed 20,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near the Eastern Ladakh sector, according to an ANI report. People's Liberation Army (PLA) has beefed up this deployment with another 10,000-12,000 troops in Xinjiang with high mobility vehicles equipped with weaponry in the rear positions. The Xinjiang PLA division is around 1,000 km and can reach the frontlines on the Chinese side of the LAC in 48 hours.

A government spokesman told ANI that India is keeping a close eye on the movement of PLA troops deployed close to the Indian territory. In spite of military and diplomatic talks between India and China for six weeks now, there has been no real disengagement on the ground on the side of the Chinese.

On Tuesday, Lt. Gen Harinder Singh met with his Chinese counterpart for more than 10 hours in the third such Corps Commander level meeting. The two sides agreed in principle to take the process of disengagement forward, media reports said.

Experts say that the process of disengagement on the ground could stretch over months and that both sides may have to prepare themselves for a long haul. One expert observed that both India and China would be keen to avoid a Siachen-ization of the Eastern Ladakh front. In other words, they would not want a situation which had developed between India and Pakistan at Siachen.

The ANI report further stated that China brought in two additional divisions from mainland China for deployment against Indian troops, in addition the two divisions it regularly deploys in the Tibet region.

India has correspondingly beefed up positions along the LAC, including a reserve mountain division.