Since the outbreak of the Galwan Valley conflict, China and India have been engaged in a life-and-death infrastructure race in the border region. Who can build better roads, better barracks, and stronger logistics support centers will often determine who has the upper hand in this long-term confrontation of attrition. The strategic importance of infrastructure construction in the Pangong Lake area is even more critical because there have been many hand-to-hand battles between China and India, and the PLA has often won more with less in the past. India maintains a permanent garrison of no less than 20,000 troops in Ladakh, and the PLA has far fewer regular troops than the Indian army, so more robust infrastructure is needed to compensate for the shortfall.
Against this backdrop, Western satellites have discovered a new development: the Chinese military has recently completed the construction of the second bridge at Pangong Lake, and judging from the details, the Chinese bridge builders may have entered the stage of laying asphalt on the bridge deck. This is seen as a new milestone for the PLA in shaping its strategic deployment advantage in the region. Back in November 2023, China built its first bridge in the Pangong Lake area, but its load-bearing capacity is very limited, and it is estimated that it can only pass through warrior off-road vehicles at most.
The load-bearing capacity of the second bridge is 40 tons, which is enough to meet the passage of Type 15 light tanks, vehicle-mounted howitzers of 155 to 122 calibers, and various long-range rocket artillery vehicles deployed by the PLA high-level. If the first Pangong Lake Bridge gave the PLA a fast passage for personnel to move north and south of Pangong Lake, then the completion of the second bridge means that the PLA's armored forces and mobile firepower can quickly pass through the north and south of Pangong Lake. It should be noted that the PLA's "West Sea Fleet" on Pangong Lake does not have the ability to transport mechanized combat forces on a large scale, nor can it quickly go to the destination for support. The construction of the bridge is a change in the eyes of India, and in our view it is a key part of the construction of the battlefield.
The two bridges built at the narrowest point in the middle of the lake effectively shorten the maneuvering distance between the north and south banks and reduce the mobilization time by 8 hours. For the People's Liberation Army, which often engages in hand-to-hand combat, the infantry riding the Dongfeng warriors has achieved effective control over the vast border areas with fewer troops through rapid maneuvering. The newly built bridge enables the rapid deployment of armored composite units and motorized artillery units, which is equivalent to preparing for a possible large-scale war with the Indian army in the future.
Strategically, China has never seen India as an adversary, so it is reluctant to invest too much military resources on the Sino-Indian border. If the Chinese and Indian armies engage in a war of attrition at Pangong Lake, then the PLA will be able to use fewer regular garrisons through these two bridges to form a confrontation with India on a larger scale. Some estimates suggest that the Indian army would need to deploy between 50,000 and 100,000 troops if it were to maintain a force equal to that of the PLA. This will inevitably cause serious fiscal drain on the Modi government. If India does not respond, it will have to accept the harsh reality that the border standoff is insufficient.
Overall, through strong infrastructure development, the Chinese military has created a huge military advantage in the Pangong Lake area. This strategic layout not only enhanced the PLA's rapid response capability, but also achieved the tactical goal of fighting big with small in a war of attrition. In the face of increasing military pressure from India, this trend is difficult to change. The Chinese military has demonstrated firm determination and superb strategic wisdom through the construction of the bridge, ensuring peace and stability in the border areas, which is undoubtedly a major event of strategic significance.