China Constructing Bridges, Setting up Villages at Tri-Junction near Doklam
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Amid the skirmish between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, China is learnt to have built a bridge near Doklam which may in the long run threaten the security of the “Siliguri corridor” that connect the north-eastern states with the rest of the country.
This bridge has been built close to the place where there was a dispute between India and China in 2017. After a 73-day standoff, the armies of both countries pulled back from the disputed site. China is currently occupying land claimed by Bhutan in Doklam.
According to intelligence reports, China has strengthened infrastructure in the areas around Doklam. Underground tunnels have been made to store heavy weapons. It is feared that China has almost doubled its military strength in this area as compared to 2017.
According to reports, China has also built many new roads in the surrounding areas of Doklam. The report also corroborated the intelligence from satellite images from American space firm Planet Labs PBC. China continues its expansion in Bhutanese territory some nine kms from the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction. In 2020, China established Pangda village in Bhutanese territory and the last year saw the expansion of this village.
The new satellite pictures also show that recently a lot of development has been seen near this village. China has also constructed a bridge over a river in this area. Many new buildings have also been built. Recent photographs show Chinese occupation of more land south of Doklam. About 20 km from the border, China is building clusters of new villages called Langmarpo in Bhutanese territory. Many of these are under construction. China is rapidly building these villages in Saiburu, Chaitangsha and Kule areas.
India’s biggest concern with China’s construction in Doklam is the security of the Siliguri Corridor. It is also known as Chicken’s Neck. It is a narrow corridor that extends for only 22 km at its narrowest. This corridor connects the north-eastern states with the rest of the country. It is feared that through Doklam, China may target the Siliguri Corridor to cut off connectivity with Northeast India.
(Manas Dasgupta)
