Unaware of India’s readiness, China rushes to procure high-altitude gear
| Date :03-Dec-2020 |
By Sumit Kumar Singh :
NEW DELHI,
CHINA is making last minute efforts to make emergency procurements of high-altitude gear and clothing for its troops as they were caught unawares of India’s readiness for the harsh winter atop the Eastern Ladkah heights -- that has been the bone of contention between the two Asian majors. India has occupied critical mountain heights on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake including Rechin La, Rezang La, Mukpari that were unmanned till now.
This along with some other peaks allows India to dominate Spangur Gap under Chinese control and also the Moldo garrison on the Chinese side. This has irked the PLA which has made multiple attempts to dislodge Indian troops leading to instances of warning gunshots being fired. Now, witnessing that India continues to occupy heights even as dark winter months approach just as temperatures have started to dip beyond minus 20 degrees Celsius, China is making emergency procurements to keep their troops also deployed at more than 16,000 feet. Intelligence sources said that Chinese had procured bulk winter clothing meant for 9,000-10,000 feet but with no disengagement taking place and the stand-off continuing, China started bulk procurements to winter gear.
Sources said that PLA Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF) has constituted a Quality Supervision Team for emergency procurement of Extreme Cold Climate clothing. This team has now been tasked to ensure good quality clothing and fast delivery to forward area troops. Whereas Indian Army -- having an edge of experience of troop deployment at Siachen heights -- in October made procurement of additional high altitude winter clothing from US keeping in mind the needs of the enhanced troop deployment in Ladakh in peak winter amid the military tussle with China.