Located on the banks of the Spanggur Lake in territory held by China since 1962, the new Chinese settlement lies approximately 30 km east of Chushul, a strategically important sector that saw heavy fighting in the 1962 war and remains a key battlespace for any future conflict. Click here for high resolution image.
Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher and open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst known for his work tracking and interpreting satellite imagery and military movements, describes the new settlement as one that “alters the on-ground reality moving away from the status quo before the 2020 border dispute”. The proximity of the village to the contested LAC, Symon says, ”not only enables the provision of robust, weatherproof accommodations for border personnel but also enhances yearlong surveillance capabilities”.
”The new Chinese habitation on the north bank of the Spanggur Lake is a part of the ongoing efforts to build infrastructure that could support the PLA’s ability to rapidly launch military operations across the LAC,” says Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retired), who was Northern Army Commander when India carried out its surgical strikes on Pakistan in 2016. ”The habitation is approximately 30 km east of Chushul, a strategically important sector that saw heavy fighting in the 1962 war and remains a key battlespace for any future conflict.”
Other senior retired Generals in the Indian Army also believe that the Chinese settlement has an overt military function. ”The new inhabitation on the Northeast bank of Spanggur Lake is certainly meant for military use,” says Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retired), a former Chief of India’s Integrated Defence Staff. ”Seen in conjunction with a similar infrastructure on the [North] bank of Pangong Tso, which we discussed a few months ago, it is clearly an endeavour to enhance the border area logistics infrastructure for the PLA.”
Construction of the new Chinese settlement, located next to an old military position, is almost complete in less than one year. Left: No construction on March 21, 2024. Right: Construction almost complete on January 25, 2025. Click here for high resolution image.
India counters China’s infrastructure build-up along the Line of Actual Control with its Vibrant Villages Programme. Launched in 2022, the programme aims to transform border villages along the northern frontier, particularly near China, by boosting infrastructure and livelihoods. With a budget of Rs. 4,800 crore for 2022-26, it targets 2,967 villages across Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, starting with 663 in the first phase. The initiative focuses on all-weather roads, renewable energy, and tourism to curb migration and enhance security. The goal is to counter China’s border tactics and uplift remote communities.
The Hindkesharishared images in this report with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Army and the Ministry of Defence prior to publication.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar had briefed parliament on December 4, on the situation along the Line of Actual Control.
”China is in illegal occupation of 38,000 Sq. kms. of Indian territory in Aksai Chin as a result of the 1962 conflict and the events that preceded it. Furthermore, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 Sq. kms. of Indian territory to China, which has been under its occupation since 1948. India and China have held talks for multiple decades to resolve the boundary issue. While there is a Line of Actual Control (LAC), it does not have a common understanding in some areas. We remain committed to engaging with China through bilateral discussions to arrive at a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for boundary settlement.”