Troops of India and China had clashed in eastern Ladakh near Pangong Lake on 5 May and in north Sikkim on 8 May. In a few days, the activities near Pangong Lake have increased significantly. Where Chinese troops are trying to enter deeper into Indian territory, all these attempted are thwarted by the Indian Army.
The boundary between India and China is known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is divided into three sectors- western, middle and eastern.
India and China disagree on the exact location of the Line of Actual Control in various areas. On one hand, India claims that the LAC is 3,488 km long, on the other hand, the Chinese claims it to be around 2,000 km long.
Armies of both sides try and dominate by patrol to the areas up to their respective perceptions of the LAC, often bringing them into conflict and leading to incidents such as those witnessed in Naku La in Sikkim earlier last month.
The Line of Actual Control mostly passes on the land, but it is different in case of Pangong Tso where LAC passes through the water as well. The main reason for the conflict in this area is the points in the water at which the Indian claim ends and Chinese claim begins are not agreed upon mutually.
About Pangong Tso
- The Pangong means extensive concavity in Ladakhi language, and in the Tibetan language, the meaning of Tso is a lake.
- Pangong Tso is a landlocked lake located at the height of more than 14,000 ft in the Ladakh region of Himalayas.
- The western end of Pangong Tso lies 54 km to the southeast of Leh. The 135 km-long lake sprawls over 604 sq km in the shape of a boomerang and is 6 km wide at its broadest point.
- The brackish water lake freezes over in winter and becomes perfect for ice skating and polo.
- The legendary Dogra general Zorawar Singh (in 19th century ) is said to have trained his soldiers and horses on the frozen Pangong lake before invading Tibet.
Strategic Importance of Pangong Tso
- The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake, but India and China do not agree on the exact location of LAC.
- India controls a 45 km-long western portion of the lake, while the rest area of the lake is controlled by China. Majority of clashes between the troops of both countries occur in the disputed area.
- Pangong Tso lake does not have major strategic significance. But it lies in the path of the Chushul approach, one of the main approaches that China can use for an offensive into Indian-held territory.
- According to the experts, a major Chinese offensive if it comes, will flow across both the north and south of the lake.
The Dispute in the area
- The difference in perception over where the LAC lies on the northern bank of the lake makes this contested terrain. In 1999, when the Army unit from the area was moved to Kargil for Operation Vijay, China took the opportunity to build 5 km of the road inside Indian territory along the lake’s bank. The August 2017 skirmish took place in this area.
- The 1999 road added to the extensive network of roads built by the Chinese in the area, which connect with each other and to the G219 Karakoram Highway. From one of these roads, Chinese positions physically overlook Indian positions on the northern tip of the Pangong lake.
- The mountains on the lake’s northern bank jut forward in major spurs, which the Army calls “fingers”. India claims that the LAC is coterminous with Finger 8.
- On the water, the Chinese had a major advantage until a few years ago, but India purchased better boats some seven years ago, leading to a quicker and more aggressive response. Although there are well-established drills for disengagement of patrol boats of both sides, the confrontations on the waters have led to tense situations in the past few years. The induction of high-speed boats has ostensibly provoked the Chinese, who have responded by increasing the number of transgressions in this area in recent years.
Acts of Heroism
- During the 1962 war, this was where China launched its main offensive. The Indian Army fought heroically at Rezang La, the mountain pass on the southeastern approach to Chushul valley, where the Ahir Company of 13 Kumaon led by Maj. Shaitan Singh made its last stand.
- Not far away, to the north of the lake, is the Army’s Dhan Singh Thapa post, named after Maj. Dhan Singh Thapa who was awarded the country’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. Maj. Thapa and his platoon were manning Sirijap-1 outpost which was essential for the defence of Chushul airfield. The award was announced posthumously for Maj. Thapa, as reflected in the citation, but he was subsequently discovered to have been taken prisoner by the Chinese. He rejoined his unit after being released from the PoW camp.
Chinese have shown aggression in the region for years. And by taking the lessons from the past Indian Armed Force are prepared to tackle any challenge from the Chinese side.
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