Chinese build 'second bridge' along Pangong, India says monitoring situation

The Indian government on Thursday said it is monitoring the situation along Pangong Tso, where the Chinese side has reportedly built a “second bridge”.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the government will continue to remain engaged with the Chinese side regarding its deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).



"We have seen reports on this bridge or a second bridge... We are monitoring the situation. Of course, we always felt it was occupied...Talks are on with the Chinese side," Bagchi said.

The MEA spokesperson's explanation came after reports, citing satellite imagery, claimed that China was constructing a "larger" second bridge on the Pangong Tso.

Reports suggested that such a bridge would facilitate faster mobilisation of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in case of a conflict. According to reports, the bridge is about 20 km from the LAC. Photographs of the construction were posted by Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher, on his Twitter handle.