India closely monitoring China's building of bridge near Pangong lake: MEA

New Delhi, January 07: Reacting to the reports that China is building a bridge on its side of the Pangong lake, India, said that it is closely monitoring the construction of a bridge by China over Pangong Tso in Ladakh.

 

Addressing a weekly press conference, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the bridge is being constructed in an area that has been under illegal Chinese occupation for the past 60 years. He asserted that the government has been “taking all necessary steps to ensure that our security interests are fully protected”, including beefing up border infrastructure.

 

"Regarding reports of a bridge being made by China on Pangong Lake, GoI monitoring this closely. This bridge is being constructed in areas that have been under illegal occupation by China for around 60 years. The government is taking steps to ensure our security interests are protected," MEA spokesperson said while addressing a press conference.

 

He further appealed that New Delhi hopes that instead of engaging in 'such antics China will work constructively with the government of India to resolve the outstanding friction points in areas along with the Western Sector of the LAC in India-China border areas.

 

The satellite images shared by geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon, have shown that China is building a bridge across the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

 

 

 

The development comes even as Indian and Chinese troops are maintaining a heavy presence in the area amid an ongoing standoff between the two armies. According to reports, over 60,000 People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops are deployed opposite the Indian territory in eastern Ladakh.

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