Resumption of China-India Border Dispute... "Chinese Troops Redeployed in Ladakh Area"

One Year After Last May's Clash... "Large-Scale Infrastructure Construction"
Chinese State Media Downplays Significance, Saying "Summer Relocation Is Routine"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Indian media have reported that the border dispute between India and China is likely to resume following the violent clashes in May last year. The Chinese military has begun redeploying troops to key border areas such as the Himalayan Ladakh region, with large numbers of soldiers returning to areas from which they had withdrawn en masse during the winter, and military infrastructure construction is progressing rapidly. Chinese state media dismissed these reports, stating that troop redeployments during the summer are routine and urged restraint against excessive interpretation.

On the 19th (local time), India Today, a local Indian media outlet, reported that the People's Liberation Army of China has started redeploying in the eastern Ladakh region of the Himalayas and is engaging in large-scale training along with infrastructure development. The Indian military is also closely monitoring Chinese activities and is reportedly reinforcing its border troops.

The two countries' relations deteriorated following violent clashes between soldiers in the Galwan Valley area of Ladakh in May and June last year. To avoid escalation, they held talks and began simultaneous troop withdrawals from the border region starting last winter. Feeling threatened by the border dispute with China, India also joined the Quad, a U.S.-led military coalition aimed at countering China. Indian media warned that China might seize the initiative in the border region while the Indian government is struggling with the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, Chinese state media dismissed these claims, saying that the units that had moved down the mountains during the harsh winter are simply returning for the summer as part of routine rotational duty. According to the Chinese state-run Global Times, "India's political forces want to divert public attention from COVID-19 to the dispute with China by exploiting the border conflict, but they should realize that this only complicates the issue and prevents resolution," sharply criticizing India.

They further pointed out that India is expanding its military capabilities by purchasing large quantities of advanced weapons despite the COVID-19 crisis. The Global Times noted, "India recently announced the purchase of light tanks from a South Korean defense company and has acquired various advanced weapons such as the P-81 submarine from the United States."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.