In a move of strategic significance, the Indian Army has captured an important Chinese military camp in the surrounding hills of the Pangong Tso lake as reported by The Telegraph.
This unexpected military action has taken China by surprise and is said to have been executed early morning of Monday (31 August) as a form of direct retaliation to China’s unprovoked military aggression.
This decision was taken after China had sent 500 of its troops to try and cross into Spanggur – which is a narrow valley near Chushul. This aggression was immediately stopped by our forces that engaged the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for three hours in hand to hand combat following which the PLA was forced to retreat.
This move has come at a time when the Indian Army has reportedly gained a big advantage over the PLA by occupying a strategic height at the southern region of the Pangong Tso lake.
The Indian Army’s special operations battalion went all out on the intervening night of August 29 and 30, and occupied the heights near the area where Chinese troops are camped.
“Height occupied by Indian Army troops including a special operations battalion is south of Southern bank of Pangong Tso near Thakung. Height was lying dormant and can give strategic advantage to the side which holds it for controlling the southern bank of lake and areas around it”, reported TOI citing sources.
This drastic measure was taken due to China trying to unilaterally alter the agreed status quo in the region by taking military action on the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake. This is an old Chinese strategy known as salami slicing, wherein they will slowly occupy small tracts of land and then call for a ceasefire. However, the Indian Army has pushed them back and has thwarted China’s nefarious designs and strengthened India’s positions.