China building model villages near LAC: Sources

New Delhi: Amid standoff with India in Eastern Ladakh, China is now constructing model defence villages along borders in Uttarakhand. Sources have confirmed Defence Watch that these model villages have 250 homes, and are being built mere 11 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 

They said that Beijing has also constructed around 55 houses about 35 kilometers away from the LAC adjoining Uttarakhand. People's Liberation Army (PLA) is supervising these constructions which has plans to construct 400 such villages in the eastern sector along the border alone. 

The state of Uttarakhand shares a long 350-km border with China. Most of the border villages see outward migration owing to a lack of livelihood opportunities. 

Sources said, these villages are big complexes equipped with all the facilities. Indian Army is monitoring the situation along the LAC, they added. 

Bilateral relations between both the countries have witnessed lows after the violent  2020 Galwan valley clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. 

Both the countries have held several rounds of military talks to solve the border tensions with India emphasising that relations with China cannot be back to normal unless border issues are solved.

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