China continued to invest in enhancing its military infrastructure along the LAC in 2022. The country constructed underground storage facilities near Doklam, built new roads in all three LAC sectors, established new villages in disputed areas adjacent to Bhutan, added a second bridge over Pangong Lake, set up a dual-purpose airport in the central sector, and created multiple helipads.
In 2022, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intensified its deployment of forces and continued to expand military infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, according to the latest report of the US Department of Defense (DoD).
The Department of Defense released its annual report on the “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC),” known as the China Military Power Report (CMPR), on Oct. 19, 2023.
PLA DEPLOYMENTS
China deployed a border regiment, supported by two divisions hailing from the Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts, along with four combined arms brigades (CAB) held in reserve in the western LAC sector. Additionally, as many as three light-to-medium CABs were deployed in the eastern sector from different theatre commands, and an extra three CABs were stationed in the central sector. While some elements of a light CAB eventually withdrew, a majority of the deployed forces remained positioned along the LAC.
BORDER CLASH
On December 9th, a significant confrontation unfolded as hundreds of Chinese and Indian forces clashed in the eastern sector of the LAC near the Yangtse area of Tawang, India. While both sides had agreed not to use firearms along the border, they engaged with sticks and clubs as weapons, resulting in injuries on both sides. Media reports characterized this skirmish as the most serious since the 2020 Galwan Valley incident.
CORPS COMMANDER-LEVEL TALKS
On July 17th, China and India convened the 16th round of Corps Commander-level talks, with a focus on resolving border disputes in the western sector of the LAC. During these discussions, both sides reached an agreement to withdraw forces from the Gogra-Hot springs area along the LAC and committed to maintaining dialogue through military and diplomatic channels to find mutually acceptable solutions to remaining border issues. Previous Corps Commander-level talks in March and January had failed to make progress in addressing the border dispute.
WITHDRAWAL FROM GOGRA-HOTSPRING
Following the 16th round of talks in July, Chinese and Indian forces initiated the withdrawal process from the Gogra-Hotsprings area in the western sector of the LAC in September. This withdrawal was a direct outcome of the diplomatic discussions.
25TH MEETING OF WORKING MECHANISM
On October 14th, representatives from China and India participated in the virtual 25th Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC). During the meeting, both sides commended the recent withdrawals of forces from the border and agreed to take measures aimed at reducing border tensions and transitioning from emergency response to regular management of the border areas. The 24th WMCC held on May 31 yielded no significant progress in disengagement from the western sector of the LAC.
The situation along the India-China border remained tense, marked by confrontations and occasional agreements to de-escalate, with a lingering border dispute demanding resolution.