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Context

• Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, confirmed that a second bridge has been built by China across the Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh.

Issues with the bridges

• The official statement said that both the bridges that are being constructed by China are in the area that has been illegally occupied by China since the 1960s.
• China is constructing a second bridge in an area held by it around the strategically key Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh and it could help the Chinese military to quickly mobilise its troops in the region.
• The bridge is being constructed alongside its earlier bridge. India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of its territory nor has accepted the unjustified Chinese claims or such construction activities.
• Toto ensures the nation's security interests, the Government of India has stepped up the development of border infrastructure, especially since 2014, including the construction of roads, bridges, etc.
• As per MEA, India too has been constructing bridges, roads and tunnels in the border regions as part of overall efforts to enhance military preparedness whereas China has recently completed the construction of the first bridge in the area.
• India has committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas to not only meet India's strategic and security requirements but also facilitate the economic developments of these areas.
• Beginning on 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs, and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border, including near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and near the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Additional clashes also took place at locations in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/defence-sources-china-pangong-tso-2nd-bridge-permanent-mea-7928121/

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