Beijing: India and China are continuing diplomatic efforts to reduce border tensions. However, there seems to be very little benefit from this conversation. There are many points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where the armies of India and China are still face to face. In this, Pangong Tso Lake located in eastern Ladakh is an important site of tension between the two countries. Now it has come to light that these days, under the guise of talks with India, China is building a large-scale settlement near the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake. This move of China has been revealed through satellite photos, in which the settlement can be seen taking shape.
Settlement being built north of Pangong Lake
Recent satellite images reviewed by India Today show that a large Chinese settlement is under construction near the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake. The settlement is located about 38 kilometers east of one of the 2020 standoff points between Indian and Chinese armies, although it is outside India’s territorial claims. Pangong Tso, the world’s highest saltwater lake, straddles the disputed border between India, China-administered Tibet and them.
Construction work going on in an area of 17 hectares
According to the report, satellite images captured on October 9 by American company Maxar Technologies show rapid construction work in an area of about 17 hectares. Located near Yemagou Road at an altitude of 4,347 metres, the site is filled with construction and earth-moving machinery. According to Y Nithyanandam, professor and head of the Geopolitical Research Program at the Takshashila Institute, “More than 100 buildings are being built, including residential structures and large administrative buildings. The open spaces and flat lands suggest possible future use for parks or sports facilities. Gives.”
Helipad was also constructed for helicopter
He also pointed to a 150-metre-long rectangular strip in the south-east corner, speculating that it could be prepared for helicopter operations. Analysis of open-source satellite imagery indicates that construction began as early as April 2024 along the river bank that slopes toward the lake. According to military sources, the settlement appears to be divided into two parts, possibly distinguishing between administrative and operational areas.
One to two storey buildings are being built
Shadow analysis of the structures shows that the settlement consisted of a mix of one- and two-storey buildings, with small huts nearby, each of which could house six to eight people. Two larger structures may have served as administration and storage facilities. The layout, designed in crescent-shaped lines rather than straight lines, suggests an intention to reduce vulnerability to long-range attacks.
China is building settlements behind high peaks
The location of the settlement behind high peaks further enhances its strategic advantage, limiting visibility from surrounding areas. “The surrounding high peaks obscure the site from ground-based monitoring equipment,” Nithyanandam said. Military sources estimate that if used for military purposes, the settlement could act as an “ad-hoc forward base”, reducing response time for the Chinese military.