China building heliports near border to ramp up military capabilities

China is strengthening its presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with heliports, an analysis of satellite imagery shows.

One of the heliports is being built near Doklam about 100 km from Doka La (Doka pass) and Naku La (Naku pass), said an analyst who uses the twitter handle @detresfa.

Doklam is the area where tensions had run high between India and China in 2017 over a road being built by the Chinese troops near the tri-junction — India, China, Bhutan — border area.

“Suspected PLA heliport infrastructure spotted [as] part of an ongoing investigation near the #Doklam region of the #India #China #Bhutan tri-junction, this support unit could sustain all weather & rapid troop deployments in the sector along with improving surveillance operations,” the analyst tweeted.

Suspected PLA heliport infrastructure spotted part of an ongoing investigation near the #Doklam region of the #India #China #Bhutan tri junction, this support unit could sustain all weather & rapid troop deployments in the sector along with improving surveillance operations https://t.co/aOeZ3deGzI pic.twitter.com/ycS32tFxJe

— d-atis☠️ (@detresfa_) August 31, 2020

The analyst had earlier tweeted about China building a surface-to-air missile site on the banks of Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. The analysis was again based on satellite imagery.

The heliport is meant to provide support to the troops stationed near the Ladakh border, said observers. It could also be intended to put pressure on India to ease the current standoff after the Galwan clash, they said.

Related News: China will pay heavy price for military misadventure in eastern Ladakh: Experts

Indian and Chinese forces clashed with each other at the Galwan valley on June 15. India lost 2o soldiers in the skirmish, while China also suffered casualties although the numbers are not known.

The Chinese are building heliports at Tianshuihai, near the Galwan Valley and the Aksai Chin region, and the Rutog County, near the northern side of Pangong Tso lake, also, The Print reported. Both the places are near eastern Ladakh.

Experts say the heliports could also be part of a larger plan by China to strengthen military capabilities along the Tibetan plateau.

“What the new imagery shows is the likely construction of a base that will support regional helicopter operations. It is very similar in size and layout to some other facilities that China has built in recent years, including several in and around the disputed Ladakh territory,” Sim Tack, an analyst with the geopolitical intelligence platform Stratfor, said, reported The Print. He said the construction may be aimed at upgrading and expanding military facilities along the Tibetan plateau.