China withdraws troops from training areas near contested LAC border

China has reportedly withdrawn around 10,000 troops from training areas located near the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India.

According to reports, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has shifted soldiers from these training centres to rear positions, possibly due to extreme weather conditions in the region.

However, there is no change in the PLA’s frontline deployments, publications further reported quoting officials familiar with the development.

Notably, the Indian Armed Forces and the Chinese counterparts have been engaged in a border stand-off near Ladakh since May.

The two sides held several rounds of discussions over the following months to resolve the impasse without any concrete result.

An official told the Hindustan Times that the pullback happened over the last week to ten days.

Former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda told the publication: “In winters, large-scale or even limited military operations are ruled out. That’s possibly the reason why the PLA has withdrawn troops from depth areas.”

Following the military standoff, India has ramped up military expenditure to procure and upgrade necessary military equipment.

Last week, public sector undertaking BEML secured orders from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply high-mobility vehicles to the Indian Army.

The orders have a combined value of Rs7.58bn ($103.75m).

Such vehicles will help in transporting armoured fighting vehicles, troops and ammunition to remote operating regions.