China ‘significantly reduced’ Army deployment along northern border in 2025, says New Delhi

China “significantly reduced” its Army deployment along India’s northern borders in 2025, the Ministry of Defence has said in its annual report.

However, 10 combined arms brigade-size forces remain deployed in areas along the Line of Actual Control and in traditional training areas, the ministry said in its report for the financial year 2025-’26. Each brigade of this size typically comprises about 5,000 personnel, according to independent analysts.

Border tensions between India and China escalated in June 2020 when a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control. It led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. Beijing said that the clash left four of its soldiers dead.

Following the face-off, both countries deployed thousands of soldiers along with heavy artillery in the region.

Since the Galwan clashes, China and India have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve their border standoff.

In October 2024, the two countries announced that they had reached a patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control, “leading to the disengagement” of the two militaries in eastern Ladakh.

Initial rounds of disengagement occurred at several sites of tension, including Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso, but Demchok and Depsang had remained points of contention.

Diplomatic engagements following the patrolling arrangement have led to a...

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