China moves back 10,000 troops from depth areas

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Chinese Army has moved back around 10,000 troops from the depth areas near the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

However, the deployment in the frontline areas has remained the same and the troops from both sides remain in an eyeball to eyeball situation at several locations in that sector.

Government sources told ANI that the Chinese Army has moved back around 10,000 troops from its traditional training areas opposite Eastern Ladakh sector and areas near it.

The Chinese traditional training areas are around 150 kilometres and beyond the Indian side of LAC. The Chinese had maintained these troops there since April-May timeframe last year.

The heavy weaponry brought in by the Chinese Army in the deployment close to Indian border has also remained in the area, the sources said. Sources said the reason for moving troops away from the depth areas may be due to the extreme winters and they may be finding it difficult to deploy a large number of troops in that extremely cold region.

It is difficult to say whether they will bring back the troops once there is a rise in temperature after February-March this year, the sources said.