India is closely monitoring the construction of a bridge by China on the Pangong Tso (lake) in eastern Ladakh.

What’s the issue?

• On the north bank, there is a PLA garrison at Kurnak fort and on the south bank at Moldo, and the distance between the two is around 200 km.
• The new bridge between the closest points on two banks, which is around 500 m, will bring down the movement time between the two sectors from around 12 hours to three or four hours.
• This will significantly bring down the time for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to move troops and equipment between the two sectors.
• The bridge is located around 25 km ahead of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).