Strike Corps Exercise In Eastern Ladakh, stuns PLA

PLA had conducted a military exercise in Chinese Occupied Tibet in Apr 2020 onwards with divisions from the Western Theatre Command of PLA’s Ground Force, the 4th Motorized Infantry and the 6th Mechanized Infantry. The two formations had then moved to support the existing deployment in Chinese Occupied areas of Eastern Ladakh. The divisions stayed in eastern Ladakh from May 2020 to February 2021 following which they rotated with the 8th and the 11 Motorized Divisions. PLA Air Force and PLA Rocket Force were also deployed in support.

Now it is India’s turn to carry out even a bigger exercise. The Army is currently conducting a large-scale exercise by one of its strike corps in Eastern Ladakh, involving all combat elements of artillery, armoured, and infantry brigades. This manoeuvre is showcasing the strategic response of India to the ongoing military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

It is worth mentioning here that an attacking Force in the high altitude needs up to 9:1 superiority. However against the two PLA divisions, IA already has two divisions and an armoured brigades and now the induction of this Strike Corps elements. So even for a conventional 3:1 superiority, PLA will need more than 15 divisions !!!!

This exercise comes after a proper deployment of Indian military forces towards the Tibetan border, particularly following the Galwan clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of at least 40 PLA soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers. Since then, India has significantly improved its military presence in the region, deploying more offensive capabilities, constructing new housing, all-weather roads, and communication networks.

The ongoing exercise will showcase new weaponry acquired by the Indian armed forces over the past four years, as done by PLA fir their 2920 exercise. The exercise also involves nearly four armoured brigades comprising over 500 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the military preparations in the region. The exercise will also test the IBG concept in high-altitude warfare offensive scenario.

This Strike Corps exercise showcases India’s commitment to ensuring a credible offensive against PLA in Chinese Occupied Tibet, especially given the ongoing tensions and the lack of progress in diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff in Chinese Occupied Ladakh areas. The Indian Army has been restructuring its forces to take the offensive into depth areas of Tibet. Thus 1 Strike Corps us being reoriented specifically for operations in Tibet through Chinese Occupied areas in Ladakh.

In case push comes to shove, a Strike Corps offensive in conjunction with SFF into Chinese Occupied Tibet can change the entire scenario in this Himalayan Region including Xinjiang areas.