Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 31, 2020

An Indian Army convoy moves along a highway leading to Ladakh. Photo: Reuters

SCMP/Bloomberg: India moving 35,000 more troops to disputed China border in Himalayas amid heightened tensions

* Both countries have rushed thousands of soldiers, artillery guns and tanks to the region since deadly clashes last month
* ‘Additional troops rushed by either side will not move back, unless there is a rapprochement at the highest political level,’ analyst said

India is positioning an additional 35,000 troops along its disputed Himalayan border with China as the possibility of an early resolution to the deadly tensions between the two neighbours fades.

The move would change the status quo along the contested 3,488km Line of Actual Control and stretch the nation’s already tight military budget, senior Indian officials said, asking not to be identified citing rules on speaking to the media.

Twenty Indian soldiers and unknown number of Chinese troops were killed in an ugly skirmish on June 15 and since then, both sides have rushed thousands of soldiers, artillery guns and tanks to the region. With India-China border agreements not holding, the situation required additional troops, the officials said.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 31, 2020

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