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South Asia is a treasure trove of diverse landscapes, cultures, and histories. Here, we’ll explore the beautiful countries that share borders with India: <keyword id="12266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nepal" source="Orion">Nepal</keyword>, <keyword id="6356598" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhutan" source="Orion">Bhutan</keyword>, <keyword id="3001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan" source="Orion">Pakistan</keyword>, <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="China" source="Orion">China</keyword>, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, as well as the maritime border with Sri Lanka. Each of these nations offers unique experiences and breathtaking beauty. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Nepal: The Himalayan Jewel" comment="subhead" text="Nepal: The Himalayan Jewel">Nepal: The Himalayan Jewel</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Nepal" msid="110382276" hostid="261" sizebytes="187574" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Majestic peaks of the Himalayas await adventurous souls in Nepal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Located in the lap of the majestic Himalayas, Nepal is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers alike. The towering peaks, including Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, draw trekkers from around the globe. Beyond the mountains, Nepal is rich in cultural heritage with ancient temples, monasteries, and vibrant festivals. Highlights: Trekking in the Annapurna and Everest regions Exploring the historic Kathmandu Valley Visiting the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bhutan: The Land of the Thunder Dragon" comment="subhead" text="Bhutan: The Land of the Thunder Dragon">Bhutan: The Land of the Thunder Dragon</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Bhutan" msid="110382305" hostid="261" sizebytes="132570" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Bhutan&amp;#39;s spiritual serenity&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Bhutan, known for its serene landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is a country that measures success by Gross National Happiness rather than GDP. The country's lush valleys, towering cliffs, and pristine forests make it a haven for nature enthusiasts. Highlights: Witnessing the breathtaking architecture of Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) Experiencing vibrant festivals like Tshechu Exploring the capital city, Thimphu, and its impressive Dzongs <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Pakistan: The Land of Ancient Civilizations" comment="subhead" text="Pakistan: The Land of Ancient Civilizations">Pakistan: The Land of Ancient Civilizations</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Pakistan" msid="110382361" hostid="261" sizebytes="63724" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Step back in time amidst the ancient ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Pakistan is a country of stunning landscapes, from the peaks of the Karakoram Range to the arid expanses of the Thar Desert. It's also home to ancient archaeological sites, bustling cities, and a rich tapestry of cultures. Highlights: Visiting the ancient ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa Trekking through the beautiful valleys of Hunza and Swat Exploring the vibrant city of Lahore with its Mughal-era landmarks <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="China: The Middle Kingdom" comment="subhead" text="China: The Middle Kingdom">China: The Middle Kingdom</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="China" msid="110382391" hostid="261" sizebytes="160816" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Great Wall stands as a testament to China&amp;#39;s enduring history and grandeur.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>China, one of the world's oldest civilisations, shares a long and complex history with India. It offers a vast array of landscapes, from the Great Wall stretching across arid deserts to the serene beauty of its countryside. Highlights: Walking along the Great Wall Exploring the Terracotta Army in Xi’an Experiencing the vibrant culture and modern marvels of Beijing and Shanghai <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bangladesh: The Land of Rivers" comment="subhead" text="Bangladesh: The Land of Rivers">Bangladesh: The Land of Rivers</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Bangladesh" msid="110382434" hostid="261" sizebytes="77384" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Sundarbans, where the mystical allure of the Bengal tiger awaits.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Bangladesh is characterised by its lush greenery, numerous rivers, and rich cultural heritage. It’s a country where the simple, rural life offers a stark contrast to its bustling cities. Highlights: Exploring the Sundarbans, home to the Bengal tiger Visiting the ancient city of Paharpur Experiencing the lively capital, Dhaka, with its vibrant markets and historical sites <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Myanmar: The Golden Land" comment="subhead" text="Myanmar: The Golden Land">Myanmar: The Golden Land</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Myanmar" msid="110382468" hostid="261" sizebytes="94416" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Bagan&amp;#39;s golden spires paint a mesmerizing skyline across ancient plains.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Myanmar, with its golden pagodas, rich history, and diverse ethnic cultures, is a country that captivates travellers. From the serene shores of Inle Lake to the bustling streets of Yangon, there's much to discover. Highlights: Marvelling at the thousands of temples in Bagan Cruising on the Irrawaddy River Visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sri Lanka: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean" comment="subhead" text="Sri Lanka: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean">Sri Lanka: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Sri Lanka" msid="110382497" hostid="261" sizebytes="193556" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Serene beaches and lush tea plantations define Sri Lanka&amp;#39;s tropical paradise.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>While Sri Lanka doesn’t share a land border with India, it lies close by in the Indian Ocean. This island nation is known for its beautiful beaches, lush tea plantations, and rich cultural heritage. Highlights: Relaxing on the pristine beaches of Bentota and Mirissa Exploring the ancient city of Sigiriya and its rock fortress Taking a scenic train ride through the tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya The countries bordering India each offer unique experiences and landscapes, making South Asia a rich and diverse region to explore. Whether you’re seeking the serenity of the Himalayas, the cultural richness of ancient civilisations, or the natural beauty of lush landscapes, these neighbouring countries have something special to offer every traveller.

India's stunning neighbouring countries that you must visit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>India is trying to modernize its military of 1.5 million people with lessons from Ukraine.</li><li>Until recent years, Russia supplied India with many weapons such as tanks and jets.</li></ul>As India boosts defense spending amid tensions with China and Pakistan, it is closely studying the Ukraine conflict for clues to the future of warfare and how to thwart its neighbors.Some lessons that Indian experts have already drawn: India needs lots of artillery, drones and cyberwarfare capabilities.Comparing Ukraine to India is tricky. Ukraine faces one major enemy — Russia — while India must contend with its old enemy Pakistan to the west, and an increasingly powerful China on its northwest frontier. The Russo-Ukraine war is mostly being fought over an Eastern European landscape of plains and forest, with a moderately good road network suitable for mechanized warfare. India must prepare for combat in a variety of terrain and climate conditions, including desert, jungle and some of the tallest mountains on Earth.India is also trying to modernize and standardize equipment for its armed forces, which comprise about 1.5 million personnel armed with a potpourri of equipment from several nations, as well as indigenous Indian gear. Until recent years, Russia supplied many weapons such as tanks and jets, but India is increasingly acquiring arms from Western nations, including American howitzers, French jet fighters, and Israeli drones.The Indian Army's artillery, for example, includes more than 3,000 weapons and multiple rocket launchers, including Russian, American, Swedish and South Korean designs. Indian observers believe Ukraine shows the importance of having plentiful and modern artillery. Artillery has arguably become the decisive combat arm in that war, with Russian firing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/ukrainian-army-suffers-from-artillery-shell-hunger/">10,000 shells per day</a> and advancing, while a munitions shortage has limited Ukraine to around 2,000 shells per day. This deluge of firepower has forced both armies to dig in, and turned the conflict into trench warfare."Looking at the demonstration of artillery fire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, two lessons are available to the Indian Army," wrote Amrita Jash, an assistant professor at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.orfonline.org/public/uploads/upload/20240118114645.pdf">report</a> for the Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think tank. "First, that firepower can be a 'battle-winning factor,' and second, that the time between acquiring the target to shooting has drastically reduced: where it once took five to 10 minutes, it now takes only a minute or two."Indeed, India already planning to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-draws-lessons-from-ukraine-war-revises-its-artillery-requirements/article67315823.ece">modernize</a> its artillery arsenal, including switching to 155-mm howitzers — the standard NATO caliber — and developing longer-range shells and rockets.<div type="image" title="Ukrainian servicemen fire an artillery in the direction of Siversk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 01, 2024." height="3000" width="4500" msid="109704222" hostid="261" sizebytes="757078"></div>The air war over Ukraine has proven to be a surprise, especially given Russian superiority in numbers of aircraft and technology. Anti-aircraft missiles have deterred the air forces of both sides from venturing into enemy airspace, with Russian aircraft limited to firing stand-off missiles at Ukrainian cities rather than providing air support for its ground troops. <a target="_blank">Drones</a> have become the stars and workhorses of the air war, with both sides deploying — and losing — drones in the hundreds of thousands.There are lessons here for Indian airpower, according to Arjun Subramaniam, a retired Indian Air Force air vice marshal who helped write the ORF report. India must prepare for "gaining control of the air in limited time and space conditions in a short, high-intensity limited conflict as well as in a longer, protracted conflict." The Air Force must also ensure that its plans are synchronized with ground and naval forces. India should also continue to focus on suppressing enemy air defenses, "particularly against an adversary that is more interested in denying rather than controlling the airspace."Not surprisingly, Subramaniam wants the Indian military to increase drone development and production. But he is also concerned about the possibility of a mass drone attack on India. "Of greater importance is the need to rapidly develop counter-drone capabilities that would be essential in responding to large-scale surprise attacks and retain effective second-strike capabilities," he wrote.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/03/20/the-cyberwar-in-ukraine-is-as-crucial-as-the-battle-in-the-trenches">Cyberwarfare</a> has also emerged in Ukraine as a crucial tool in everything from hacking into military computers and critical infrastructure to purveying propaganda and deepfakes in global media. ORF researcher Shimona Mohan noted "the increasing role of largely civilian organizations like big tech in conflict situations and the deepening interplay of civil-military partnerships around dual-use technologies like AI."Mohan recommends that India invest in cyberwarfare, as other nations are doing. "However, if this is not feasible for socio-political or economic reasons, it should be a priority for countries to ensure that their strategic geopolitical allies are formidable tech powers—for instance in this war, Ukraine received much support from its more tech-savvy partners like the US and private tech companies."Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

India is drawing lessons from Ukraine to counter China's military might 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian army to increase its troop size by 180,000.</li><li>The increase would make Russia's army the second largest in the world, behind only China's.</li></ul>Russian President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-russia-plans-to-comprehensively-upgrade-its-navy-2024-6">Vladimir Putin</a> wants to grow his country's armed forces, but experts say his ambitions could come at the expense of Russia's economy.On Monday, Putin ordered the army to increase its troops by 180,000, per a decree published by the Kremlin.This will raise the overall number of Russian military personnel to 2.38 million people, with 1.5 million of them being active soldiers.The expansion, which will take effect in December, would give Russia the world's second-largest army, behind only China and ahead of the US and India, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-orders-russian-army-grow-by-180000-soldiers-become-15-million-strong-2024-09-16/">per Reuters</a>, which cited data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.This isn't the first time Putin has sought to expand the army since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian leader ordered an increase of 137,000 troops in August 2022, followed by an increase of 170,000 in December 2023.Nick Reynolds, a land warfare research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the increase is consistent with Russia's ongoing war planning.In February, Reynolds coauthored a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russian-military-objectives-and-capacity-ukraine-through-2024">commentary</a> that suggested that 2025 would be a make-or-break year for Russia. Russia believes it can sustain current troop and equipment losses through 2025, with the belief that "victory should be achieved by 2026," they wrote.That's not implausible if Ukraine's Western allies don't keep supporting it, they added. But after 2026, Russia will begin to run out of existing stocks of tanks and armored fighting vehicles and will have to rely on producing new ones.The gear coming off the production line "will still be substantial," Reynolds told BI in an interview on Wednesday. "Just significantly less than they are now."That raises the question of how Russia can resource its even bigger army when it is already stretched."Where are the resources going to come from? How is the recruitment going to work?" Reynolds said, adding: "There are still some serious questions about how they will be equipped."It's also hard to see how the current training pipeline could support the expansion, he said.The increase in the army comes at a perilous time for Russia, which has to balance its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-ukraine-war-moscow-military-spending-inflation-worker-shortage-2024-2">military objectives in Ukraine</a> against the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-growth-recession-labor-worker-shortage-inflation-sanctions-west-2024-9">toll the war is taking on its economy</a>.Russia has "adapted much better than predicted to some of the pressures it's been put under," Reynolds told BI. But despite this, he said, "inflation is through the roof. The cost of living is through the roof."Other experts BI spoke to said that while Putin might still be able to grow Russia's army, it may only add more strain to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-lacks-workers-ukraine-war-labor-crisis-worker-shortage-2023-12">already-stretched Russian labor force</a>.Artem Kochev, an economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, told BI that Russia's labor market would be less affected if military recruitment is done in a targeted fashion."Currently, new recruits can be split into two groups: indebted people with low socio-economic status, and prison convicts," Kochev said. "They either participate in the less productive branches of the economy or are not part of the labor market at all."Russia has recruited so many inmates that it has started to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-shutter-prisons-inmates-ukraine-war-2024-3">shut down some of its prisons</a>, with one local official telling lawmakers in March that some prisons had to be shuttered because of "a one-time large reduction in the number of convicts," per Russian newspaper Kommersant."As long as recruitment stays within those two groups, the impact on the labor market will be limited," Kochev said, but noted that, even then, enlisting new recruits would still pose a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-defense-military-war-spending-drains-resources-other-sectors-2024-1">sizable fiscal burden</a>.In July, Russian media reported that new recruits in Moscow would <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-military-troops-new-recruits-ukraine-bonus-high-death-rate-2024-7">receive a bonus of 1.9 million rubles, or about $22,000</a>, if they signed a contract with the Russian defense ministry.That package is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sign-up-bonuses-reaching-on-par-with-us-military-2024-7">on par with the bonuses offered by the US military</a> to their recruits, which range from $20,000 to $50,000.And even if money weren't a problem, Russia would still find it difficult to achieve its recruitment goals without hobbling its own economy."Taking another 180,000 people out of the labor force would have a serious impact on the economy," said Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist at the Kyiv School of Economics Institute.He added: "The labor market is already extremely tight with the unemployment rate dropping to 2.4% in June, which is basically full employment, and nominal wage growth now above 15% year-over-year."The hunger for more troops has seen Russia turn to an unlikely source — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-forcing-african-migrants-and-students-to-fight-in-ukraine-2024-6">African migrants and students</a>.In June, Bloomberg reported that Russian officials had threatened not to renew the visas of African migrant workers and students if they didn't join the Russian Armed Forces.Jeremy Morris, a global studies professor at Aarhus University, told BI that Russia's economic problems could overshadow its military challenges if left unattended."Authoritarian societies like Russia seem calm and controlled, but destabilization can happen quite abruptly," he said.

Putin is embarking on an aggressive hiring drive to rejuvenate Russia's army. But he can't sustain it, experts say.

<ul><li>“Our armed forces are always ready to stop any attempt of transgression at our borders,” <keyword id="6355121" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajnath-singh" source="Orion">Rajnath Singh</keyword> told the Lok Sabha. </li><li>Indian and <keyword id="151196" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chinese-troops" source="Orion">Chinese troops</keyword> clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in <keyword id="12277618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tawang-sector" source="Orion">Tawang sector</keyword> of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9. </li><li>The face-off resulted in "minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides", the Indian Army said on Monday. </li></ul>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that timely intervention by Indian Army stopped the Chinese PLA troops from encroaching on the country's territory during the December 9 face-off at Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector. Speaking in the Lok Sabha today, the Defence Minister said that Indian Army bravely stopped the Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) PLA troops from encroaching on Indian territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts. "On December 9, 2022 in the Yangtse area of Tawang sector PLA troops encroached upon and attempted to change status quo. This attempt was tackled by our troops in a determined manner. There was fist fight in during this face-off as well. Our troops bravely stopped PLA from encroaching upon our territory and forced them to go back to their post," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha. The minister said that the issue had been taken up with China through diplomatic channels. "After this incident, on December 11, the local commander of the area held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart under the established system and discussed this incident. The Chinese side was refused all such actions and told to maintain peace at the border," Singh told the Lok Sabha. The Defence Minister said that no <keyword id="1052484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-troops" source="Orion">Indian troops</keyword> were killed or seriously injured in the incident. Singh said, "In this face-off, a few soldiers on both sides suffered injuries. I'd like to tell this House that none of our soldiers died or suffered any serious injury. Due to the timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers have retreated to their own locations." "This matter has also been taken up with China through diplomatic channels. I want to assure the House that our forces are committed to guard our borders and ready to thwart any attempt that will be made to challenge it," Rajnath Singh said. "I am confident this House will respect the capability, valour and commitment of our armed forces, Singh said. On Monday the Indian Army in a statement said: "On December 9, PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by own (Indian) troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides." "Both sides immediately disengaged from the area. As a follow up of the incident, own (Indian) commander in the area held a flag meeting with his counterpart to discuss the issue in accordance with structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquillity," it said. Opposition members earlier today created a ruckus in Parliament over the clash between troops of India and China. Soon after Rajnath Singh's statement, Opposition leaders staged a walkout from Lok Sabha.

No loss of life or serious injury to our soldiers: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tawang clash

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s <keyword id="6359526" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="military" source="Orion">military</keyword> spending of $76.6 billion ranked third highest in the world followed by the US and <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>, stated Sweden based think-tank -- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) -- in its report published on Monday. The report stated that India's military spending was up by 0.9 per cent from 2020 and by 33 per cent from 2012. In a push to strengthen the indigenous arms industry, 64 per cent of capital outlays in the military budget of 2021 were earmarked for acquisitions of domestically produced arms. India is facing the threat of a two-front war -- from China and Pakistan. Since 2020, India has been engaged in border dispute at Line of Actual Control with China. The report also stated total global military expenditure has increased by 0.7 per cent in real terms in 2021, to reach $2,113 billion. It stated that the five largest spenders in 2021 were the US, China, India, the UK and Russia, together accounting for 62 per cent of expenditure, according to new data on global military spending. World military spending continued to grow in 2021, reaching an all-time high of $2.1 trillion. This was the seventh consecutive year that spending increased. "Even amid the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, world military spending hit record levels," said <keyword id="13702792" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="diego-lopes-da-silva" source="Orion">Diego Lopes da Silva</keyword>, Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme. "There was a slowdown in the rate of real-terms growth due to inflation. In nominal terms, however, military spending grew by 6.1 per cent." As a result of a sharp economic recovery in 2021, the global military burden -- world military expenditure as a share of world gross domestic product (GDP), fell by 0.1 percentage points, from 2.3 per cent in 2020 to 2.2 per cent in 2021. Meanwhile, the US military spending amounted to $801 billion in 2021, a drop of 1.4 per cent from 2020. The US military burden decreased slightly from 3.7 per cent of GDP in 2020 to 3.5 per cent in 2021. "US funding for military research and development (R&amp;D) rose by 24 per cent between 2012 and 2021, while arms procurement funding fell by 6.4 per cent over the same period. In 2021 spending on both decreased. However, the drop in R&amp;D spending (-1.2 per cent) was smaller than that in arms procurement spending (-5.4 per cent)," the report stated. "The increase in R&amp;D spending over the decade 2012-21 suggests that the United States is focusing more on next-generation technologies," said <keyword id="12676475" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="alexandra-marksteiner" source="Orion">Alexandra Marksteiner</keyword>, Researcher with SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme. The US government has repeatedly stressed the need to preserve the US military's technological edge over strategic competitors. Russia increased its military expenditure by 2.9 per cent in 2021, to $65.9 billion, at a time when it was building up its forces along the Ukrainian border. This was the third consecutive year of growth and Russia's military spending reached 4.1 per cent of GDP in 2021. As it has strengthened its defences against Russia, Ukraine's military spending has risen by 72 per cent since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Spending fell in 2021, to $5.9 billion, but still accounted for 3.2 per cent of the country's GDP. China, the world's second largest spender, allocated an estimated $293 billion to its military in 2021, an increase of 4.7 per cent compared with 2020. China's military spending has grown for 27 consecutive years. The 2021 Chinese budget was the first under the 14th Five-Year Plan, which runs until 2025. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-10-most-expensive-shares-in-india/slidelist/91073430.cms">MRF, Page Industries, Nestle among top 10 stocks that are extremely expensive to buy</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/hyundai-motors-profit-up-17-aims-to-sell-4-32-million-vehicles-this-year/articleshow/91073745.cms">Hyundai Motor's profit up 17%, aims to sell 4.32 million vehicles this year</a>

India's military spending 3rd highest in the world, says report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Three years after a deadly clash, India and China's disputed border in the Himalayas remains tense.</li><li>Both sides are beefing up their presence there, basing more troops and building more infrastructure.</li></ul>Three years after the first deadly clash on India's and China's disputed Himalayan border in decades, the region <a href="https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/05/why-we-should-all-worry-about-china-india-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remains tense</a>.Repeated rounds of talks over disengagement <a href="https://thewire.in/diplomacy/no-progress-on-resolving-chinese-border-ingress-in-ladakh-in-18th-round-of-military-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have failed</a>, and Chinese and Indian soldiers were wounded in another <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-china-border-scuffle-injured-troops-both-sides-indian-defence-minister-2022-12-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brawl</a> in December. Both countries continue <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/both-china-india-ramp-up-infrastructure-on-north-bank-of-pangong-tso/article67034490.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to build up</a> military forces and infrastructure around hotspots on the border.An important part of that buildup has been China's deployment of light tanks, which can maneuver well on mountainous terrain and deploy quickly in large numbers. Their presence has exposed shortcomings in the Indian military's armored inventory, which relies heavily on main battle tanks that struggle in high altitudes.Consequently, India is planning to developing its own light tank to level the playing field.<h2>Light tanks</h2><div type="image" title="Army M24 Chaffee light tank Bologna Italy" height="1367" width="1823" msid="101441088" hostid="261" sizebytes="201378"></div>Light tanks are intended to provide direct support to infantry against enemy positions and light armored vehicles rather than square off against enemy tanks on their own. Their design puts an emphasis on speed and maneuverability at the cost of armor and firepower.Interest in light tanks is growing and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amid-armor-battles-in-ukraine-militaries-building-new-light-tanks-2023-3" target="_top">isn't limited to India and China</a> — the US and Japan are also reinvesting in the concept — but China's and India's need is especially pronounced, as the terrain separating them is particularly difficult for main battle tanks.This was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-india-tanks-armor-could-make-future-war-much-deadlier-2021-5" target="_top">proved</a> in 2020 and 2021, when, as a result of a deadly border clash in Ladakh that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers, both countries deployed armored units to parts of the Himalayas with altitudes of 11,000 feet and higher.The low air pressure at those altitudes hindered the performance of tank engines, and freezing temperatures forced soldiers to turn their armored vehicles on for up to 30 minutes every two or three hours to prevent engine components from freezing. Heavier vehicles also had trouble with the terrain.Despite the difficulties for armored vehicles, neither side is willing to deploy troops to the area without them, largely because of the important role tanks still play on the battlefield.<h2>The Type 15</h2><div type="image" title="China Type 15 tank" height="1336" width="2000" msid="101441091" hostid="261" sizebytes="107876"></div>China has coped with these issues by deploying its <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/vt5_light_weight_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video_11711164.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 15</a> light tank, one of the few modern light tanks produced in the 21st century.Unveiled <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-11/03/content_27259981.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 2016</a>, the Type 15 — also known as the ZTQ-15 — is billed as a lighter, cheaper alternative to heavier, more complex tanks produced by Russia or Western countries. Weighing in at 33 tons to 36 tons, depending on its load, the Type 15 is considerably lighter than China's 41-ton <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/tanks/type_96.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 96</a> tank and 55-ton <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/ztz99_type_99_wz123_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_information_description_intelligence_uk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 99</a> tank and less than half as heavy as recent versions of the US-made M1 Abrams.The Type 15 reportedly entered service in 2018, though it first appeared publicly as an <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/new_light_tank_type_15_at_rehearsal_of_chinese_military_parade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-service</a> tank in 2020 during the military parade for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. China's military is believed to have about 500 in service.<div type="image" title="China Type 15 tank" height="1333" width="2000" msid="101441093" hostid="261" sizebytes="194556"></div>Its 105 mm rifled gun is equipped with an autoloader and it has an ammo capacity of 38 rounds. Its secondary armament comprises a remotely operated 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. It has a top speed of 43 mph on paved roads and 25 mph off-road.The tank is made of standard steel but is fitted with explosive reactive armor blocks on its turret and sides. It can also <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2019/08/chinas-vt5-lightweight-tank-to-be-fitted-with-active-protection-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be equipped</a> with a Chinese-made active protection system.The Type 15 is equipped with a suite of modern electronics, including a laser range finder, nighttime and thermal optics, a warning sensor system, satellite communications, and inertial and satellite navigation systems.In addition to its weight, the Type 15 has other features that make it suitable for mountainous operations. Its hydro-pneumatic suspension allows it to aim its gun higher or lower than standard tanks, which is useful for targets at high elevations. It also has oxygen generators, which help the engine run at high altitudes.<h2>Project Zorawar</h2><div type="image" title="India Arjuna main battle tank" height="1333" width="1777" msid="101441094" hostid="261" sizebytes="382618"></div>India's army hasn't had a light tank in service since its Soviet-designed PT-76 was retired in 1989.Instead, it relies almost exclusively on its heavily armored <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-indias-t-90m-bhishma-tank-russian-tech-indian-made-136987" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T-90</a> and <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/t-72.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T-72</a> tanks, which weigh 43 tons and 46 tons, respectively, and its <a href="https://www.army-technology.com/projects/arjun-mbt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arjun series</a> main battle tanks, which weigh between 58 tons and 68 tons. Those tanks were acquired with Pakistan in mind, and they are better suited for open plains and deserts.India has tried on and off since 1983 to develop a new light tank but has never settled on a model. The Ladakh clash in 2020 — followed by a Chinese military buildup in which the Type 15 operated with comparative ease — prompted new action to acquire a light tank. (One retired Indian general even <a href="https://raksha-anirveda.com/light-tanks-the-himalayan-game-changer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> that a lack of light tanks hindered India's ability to deter Chinese aggression in the first place.)In 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense <a href="https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/sites/default/files/RFI-Lt%20Tk%2016%20Apr%20%2021%20%28Final%29%20%281%29_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested information</a> from industry about the production of 350 light tanks, each weighing no more than 25 tons and crewed by two to three people. Additional requirements included an autoloader, a remote-controlled machine-gun, the ability to fire "smart munitions" and anti-tank guided missiles, and the ability to add explosive-reactive-armor blocks.<div type="image" title="India army convoy Kashmir Ladakh" height="1710" width="2500" msid="101441098" hostid="261" sizebytes="699856"></div>Initially, there was speculation that India might buy the <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_light_armoured_vehicle_uk/2s25_sprut-sd_self-propelled_anti-tank_gun_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_uk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2S25 Sprut-SD</a> from Russia, which has <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-light-tank-tender-russians-ready-to-respond-to-indian-army-tender-2987880/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly offered</a> to transfer the technology needed to build it. But the Indian government has indicated that it wants a domestic design, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" policy.Late last year, India's Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of 315 tanks, which will compose seven regiments. Indian media has <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/indian-army-concerned-over-chinese-moves-at-lac-may-induct-700-zorawar-light-tanks-12431122.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that India's army may increase the order to nearly 700 tanks.Indian multinational firm Larsen &amp; Toubro <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indias-zorawar-programme-inches-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was announced</a> as the government's development partner in September, and the company was <a href="https://www.ajaishukla.com/2023/04/l-gets-order-to-build-prototype-of.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded</a> the contract for the first prototype in April. It will feature an 800-horsepower engine made by a German subsidiary of Rolls Royce and a 105 mm gun turret made by a Belgian firm.Indian officials have <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/drdo-light-tank-zorawar-to-be-ready-for-trials-by-year-end-along-china-border/articleshow/100356991.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the first tanks will be ready for trial testing by the end of this year and that the initial order will number 59 units.In what may be a reflection of the opponent the Indian army has in mind for its new light tank, the effort has been called "Project Zorawar," in reference to Zorawar Singh, a general who conquered Ladakh from Chinese rulers in the early 19th century.

India and China are buying new tanks designed to fight on one of the world's highest battlefields

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In October, US and Indian soldiers trained in <keyword id="12020240" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alaska" source="Orion">Alaska</keyword> during the latest version of the <keyword id="12658337" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yudh-abhyas" source="Orion">Yudh Abhyas</keyword> exercise.</li><li>This year's iteration was the 17th of the exercise but only the second time it has been in Alaska.</li></ul>US and Indian soldiers have conducted the Yudh Abhyas exercise for 17 years, but the version held in late October was only the second time they've ventured to Alaska for it.This year's exercise was conducted as both countries face rising tensions with <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>, but that was far from mind as soldiers scrambled through deep snow and over mountainous terrain.Relations with China "did not enter anybody's mind in the course of this exercise," Col. Jody Shouse, the senior US Army officer at the exercise, told Insider in an interview in October. "This exercise was completely about coming together with the <keyword id="11893656" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="indian-army" source="Orion">Indian Army</keyword> and becoming one, and China was not factored into this in any way."<div type="image" title="Indian soldiers with rifles in Alaska" height="1428" width="2000" msid="88059617" hostid="261"></div>While strategic-level issues, mainly disputes with China, have brought the countries closer in recent years, exercises like Yudh Abhyas are a part of decades-long efforts by their militaries to work together.Those "bottom-up" efforts are not always linked to higher-level strategic rationales, said Arzan Tarapore, a research scholar at Stanford University focused on South Asian security.The US and Indian militaries are "training to share knowledge about certain mission sets, to share knowledge about certain competencies, and to learn about each other," Tarapore told Insider. "That's just what they do."<h2>What Alaska offers</h2><div type="image" title="Indian soldiers and US Army paratroopers during Yudh Abhyas in Alaska" height="1335" width="2000" msid="88059619" hostid="261"></div>Yudh Abhyas alternates between <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and the US, and this iteration was a year in the making, according to Shouse, commander of the US Army's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) — the Army's newest airborne brigade combat team and the only one in the Pacific.The US and Indian units involved and other higher-level US commanders met several times over the past year to arrange the exercise's two components: a command-post exercise simulating a UN peacekeeping mission and a field-training exercise in different locations in Alaska, held simultaneously."We had to select officers from various areas and fields of expertise for the CP exercise. Some of them had some experience with the UN before," Brig. Parag Nangare, 136th (I) Infantry Group commander and senior Indian Army officer at the exercise, told Insider during the interview."They brought their experiences and their standard operating procedures with them. We brought ours with us, and then we were able to put them together and create one standard operating procedure at the command-post exercise level," Shouse said.<div type="image" title="US and Indian soldiers during Yudh Abhyas in Alaska" height="1333" width="2000" msid="88059621" hostid="261"></div>The field-training exercise was in two parts. The first week consisted of "a kind of a round-robin circuit drill" during which US and Indian soldiers formed four teams that each spent a day at different stations, Shouse said.Those stations included training to evacuate casualties and sling-loading artillery with helicopters, load and unload aircraft, counter-drone and counter-improvised-explosive-device training, rappel towers and obstacle courses, and weapons familiarization. They also had sports days and <a href="https://newsable.asianetnews.com/video/india-defence/yudh-abhas-2021-sidelines-from-bollywood-dance-numbers-to-roasting-marshmallows-r1kp0z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cultural exchanges</a>.The first week was "the building block of the cohesiveness" that was seen during the final exercise, held in Alaska's mountains during the last week of October, Nangare said.US and Indian soldiers also went to the <a href="https://www.jber.jb.mil/Portals/144/units/JPARC/PDF/JPARC-Black-Rapids-Training-Area.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Rapids training area</a> near Denali Mountain for training in "very extreme altitudes and a very extreme, mountainous environment," Shouse said.That training, done at altitudes of 14,000 feet, allowed both sides to hone their craft.<div type="image" title="US and Indian soldiers rappel down wall" height="1335" width="2000" msid="88059623" hostid="261"></div>"The lesson learned, really, in all this is the Indian army are probably better climbers than the US Army," Shouse said. "We have learned a tremendous amount from what these gentlemen have learned in their country, because they operate at 16,000 feet every single day."Nangare singled out the training in the mountains and with "the technological availabilities that the US Army has" as especially valuable.The only other Yudh Abhyas to take place in Alaska was a decade ago, and this year both sides wanted to take advantage of Alaska's mountainous terrain and adverse conditions to "hone their skills and their craft in a different geographical location," Shouse said.The "shared hardships" of training in that area promoted bonding, the US commander said.The day Shouse and Nangare spoke to Insider, both had been snowshoeing in the mountains when the weather "turned really bad on us," Shouse added. "That is just what Alaska offers you."<h2>Partners competing together</h2><div type="image" title="US and Indians soldiers conduct sling-load training with CH-47 Chinook helicopter" height="1294" width="2000" msid="88059625" hostid="261"></div>About 100 troops participated in the first Yudh Abhyas in Alaska, "and this time we have a strength of approximately about 650," Nangare said. "That shows the importance of the training and the exercise."Nangare said there are procedures in place for returning personnel to share their experiences with troops doing similar tasks in India.Those troops may get more first-hand experience next year, when Yudh Abhyas returns to India. US and Indian officials are already planning for that exercise, in which many of the same US soldiers, including Shouse, will participate."I am absolutely going to put our forces on the ground in the Himalayas," Shouse said. "With the new <keyword id="11905238" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="arctic" source="Orion">Arctic</keyword> strategy out and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/army-looks-to-allies-partners-to-regain-arctic-military-dominance-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Army want[ing] us to be dominant in the Arctic</a>, that takes every bit of time that we have to train in very mountainous and extreme conditions, and the Himalayas is just going to give us another way of doing that."<div type="image" title="US and Indian soldiers use metal detector in Alaska" height="1333" width="2000" msid="88059627" hostid="261"></div>The Himalayas stretch across India's northern frontier, and in recent years Indian forces have had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-intelligence-sharing-with-india-helps-monitor-chinese-military-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two major standoffs</a> with Chinese troops <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-india-recalibrating-after-doklam-but-future-conflict-possible-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in disputed areas</a> on the eastern and western ends of that frontier.Mountain training is a longstanding focus for the Indian army, and previous iterations of Yudh Abhyas in India took place elsewhere in the Himalayas. If next year's exercise is "near disputed territory, that would be a bit of a political signal," Tarapore said.US military officials say the two countries have "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-intelligence-sharing-with-india-helps-monitor-chinese-military-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gotten closer</a>" because of those standoffs, with the US providing intelligence and material support at India's request, including 10,000 sets of cold-weather gear and sleeping bags, the US Army's top civilian official said this week."We would continue to do that and look favorably upon those kinds of requests," Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said at <a href="https://www.csis.org/events/chinas-power-debate-2021-keynote-remarks-secretary-christine-wormuth-us-armys-view-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a think-tank</a> event. "We're actually going to be giving them some more next spring."India has been competing and clashing with China for decades — they fought a major border war in 1962 — and it <a href="https://www.ajaishukla.com/2021/01/armys-pivot-to-north.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has moved</a> independently to bolster its <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2021/11/08/india-readies-troops-for-another-harsh-winter-on-border-with-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military posture</a>, including <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3154103/china-india-border-dispute-india-deploys-us-made-weaponry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with US weaponry</a>, along that frontier (<a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3157794/china-india-border-building-boom-himalayas-beijing-shores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as has China</a>), so New Delhi isn't "buying into a US program" to counter Beijing, Tarapore said.<div type="image" title="Indian soldiers capture opposition forces in Alaska" height="1333" width="2000" msid="88059629" hostid="261"></div>India has long eschewed formal alliances, seeking "strategic autonomy," nor is the US offering such an alliance to India, "but the partnership is doing everything it can up to that point," Tarapore said."This is an India that is competing with China and a US that is competing with China coming together and realizing that they have a lot of mutual interests in how they can compete with China together," Tarapore added.At the soldier-to-soldier level, the value of Yudh Abhyas and the reward of working together during it was clear, Shouse and Nangare said."I've been in command for about four months now. This has been the single most rewarding exercise that I have been able to be a part of," Shouse said, "We cannot do anything in this world without our partners, and it is exercises like this that strengthens that."In the field and during the command-post exercise, US and Indian soldiers worked "like a homogeneous single entity," Nangare said. "The bonding that has taken place between the troops of both countries is amazing to see."

With China out of mind, US and Indian soldiers team up for rare exercise in rough Alaskan conditions

For the first time in 70 years, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has changed its posture towards <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>, unlike its previous defensive approach that placed a premium on fending on Chinese aggression, India is now catering military options to strike back and has reoriented its military accordingly. India has reoriented around 50,000 troops whose main focus will be the disputed border with China. Sources said that the Mathura-based 1 strike Corp, earlier tasked to cross the western borders into <keyword id="3001" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword>, has been reoriented from its position to disputed border areas with China. In addition to this, in the Central Sector - the least disputed portion of the border running along with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand to Nepal, deployment has also been strengthened with at least division level troops. A Division of the Indian Army has at least 10,000 troops. The Panagarh based Mountain Strike Corps has been assigned to the Eastern sector of the border. The XVII Mountain Strike Corps, also called the Brahmastra Corps, has been assigned to hit back along with the eastern sector when the need arises. The Mountain Strike Corps was cleared by the <keyword id="6356303" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centre">Centre</keyword> about a decade ago but it had only one Division attached to it so far. The government is taking all requisite steps for strengthening of the Mountain Strike Corps. This reorientation of the troops will lessen the soldiers dedicated solely to Pakistan but at the same time, more acclimatized troops who can shift from the northern border to the western border with Pakistan will be available to Indian military planners. This gives the Indian defence establishment a higher level of maneuverability and flexibility vis-a-vis its neighbours. The reorientation comes when China is refurbishing its existing air-fields in Tibetan Plateau that will allow twin-engines fighter aircraft to be stationed, sources said. In addition, China has also brought troops from the Tibet Military region to the <keyword id="46500" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xinjiang">Xinjiang</keyword> region -- which largely extends from Karakoram pass to down south Uttarakhand. Further, they have deployed larger numbers of long range artillery and are rapidly building infrastructure in the Tibetan Plateau. So far 11 rounds of diplomatic and military level talks have taken place to resolve the border dispute. However, apart from de-escalation at Pangong Tso - a glacier at 14000 feet -- border dispute remains at other friction points like disputed areas at Gogra, Hot Springs, Demchok, and Depsang at Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. See Also - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/tiger-global-overtakes-sequoia-as-the-top-investor-in-indian-unicorns-in-2021-cracks-15-deals-this-year-so-far/articleshow/83912624.cms">Tiger Global overtakes Sequoia as the top investor in Indian unicorns in 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/kims-ipo-listed-in-stock-market-at-over-20-premium/articleshow/83912694.cms">KIMS IPO: Stock listed at over 20% premium, loses initial gains after soaring to ₹1059 per share</a>

India reorients around 50,000 troops to focus on the disputed border with China

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Defense Department's latest report on the Chinese military describes its advances in 2020.</li></ul>The US Department of Defense's <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/03/2002885874/-1/-1/0/2021-CMPR-FINAL.PDF" target="_top">annual report</a> on <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>'s military was released in November, providing new information on the growing strength of the <keyword id="12866680" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="peoples-liberation-army" source="Orion">People's Liberation Army</keyword> during 2020.Among the updates to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-pentagon-maps-show-chinas-increasing-military-power-and-reach-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last year's assessments, which covered developments in 2019</a>, were an increase in the estimated size of China's ground forces, an even larger naval fleet, and the introduction of new weapons.The changes can be tracked on the maps included in the report. Many were unchanged from last year, but those showing the placement of the major units of China's army, air force, and navy do have new details.<h2>PLA ground forces</h2><div type="image" title="China Chinese PLA tanks" height="1667" width="2500" msid="90580118" hostid="261"></div>The first map shows the location and positions of the major headquarters and group armies of the PLA's ground forces, identified in the report as the People's Liberation Army Army.The PLAA is still the largest standing army in the world, with 975,000 active-duty personnel — an increase from 915,000 in last year's report. The troops are divided into 78 combined-arms brigades in 13 group armies across five theaters: Northern, Central, Eastern, Southern and Western. There are also two military districts in the Western Theater, based in Xinjiang and Tibet.The brigades, each of which can have up to 5,000 troops, are organized into heavy (tracked armored vehicles), medium (wheeled armored vehicles), and light (high-mobility, mountain, air-assault and motorized) categories.The maps show the rotation or relocation of some of the group armies compared to last year. It also shows the location of the headquarters for China's Airborne Corps and Marine Corps, which are part of China's air force and navy, respectively.<div type="image" title="China military ground units map" height="1294" width="1290" msid="90580119" hostid="261"></div>The report says the PLA's major force restructuring program, started in 2016 to streamline to PLA, is complete, but that "significant additional equipment fielding is necessary to complete the transformation of the PLAA into a fully modern force."The Pentagon report notes that although some 40% of the PLAA's main battle tanks are 20 to 40 years old and "significant numbers of infantry brigades employ outdated equipment," the PLAA is receiving new hardware.The <a href="http://www.military-today.com/artillery/pcl_171.htm" target="_top">PCL-171</a> 120 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer was mentioned in the report, as was the <a href="https://weaponsystems.net/system/978-PCL181" target="_top">PCL-181</a> 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer. Both systems increase the PLAA's mobility, a key objective of the PLA as a whole.The report noted that the PLAA conducted extensive combined-arms and joint training with other branches despite the Covid-19 pandemic, with emphasis on high elevations as a result of increased tensions with India. Force projection over the Taiwan Strait was also a major focus.<h2>PLA Navy</h2><div type="image" title="A Chinese Type 055 destroyer" height="683" width="1024" msid="90580120" hostid="261"></div>Officially known as the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's navy is the largest in the world with a total battle force of 355 vessels, including about 145 "major surface combatants."As noted in the report, the PLAN is "speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas."The map of PLAN forces provides an updated count of the types of vessels assigned to each of its three fleets, based in the PLA's Northern, Eastern, and Southern theaters.The PLAN's Eastern Theater Navy saw the most change, adding seven ships, (one frigate, five corvettes, and one amphibious transport dock), while losing 10 (eight missile patrol craft and two medium landing ships), though the report doesn't say whether those ships were decommissioned, reassigned, or removed for some other reason.<div type="image" title="China military naval units map" height="1360" width="1204" msid="90580121" hostid="261"></div>The Northern Theater Navy added five ships (one cruiser, two destroyers, and two corvettes) and lost five (two medium landing ships and three missile patrol craft).The Southern Theater Navy added three vessels (two nuclear-powered attack submarines and one amphibious transport dock) and lost 17 (one destroyer, four frigates, three tank landing ships, one medium landing ship, and eight missile patrol craft).Last year, China launched its second Type 075 amphibious assault ship and commissioned its first Type 055 destroyer, which the Pentagon classifies as a cruiser because of its massive armament of 112 missiles. In 2021, China <a href="https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/chinas-third-type-075-lhd-starts-sea-trials/" target="_top">launched</a> its third Type 075 and <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/china-commissions-three-major-naval-vessels-on-plans-72nd-anniversary" target="_top">commissioned</a> two more Type 055s.The PLAN's Marine Corps, made up of about 40,000 marines in eight brigades, graduated its first domestically trained ship-borne aircraft pilots in 2020 and continues to mechanize.China plans on increasing its overall fleet size to 420 vessels by 2025 and 460 by 2030.<h2>PLA Air Force and naval aviation</h2><div type="image" title="H-6N refueling" height="2000" width="3008" msid="90580122" hostid="261"></div>China's air force, officially called the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and the PLAN's aircraft make up the largest aviation force in the Indo-Pacific region and the third largest in the world.The report indicates that the PLAAF and PLAN have grown their fleets to more than 2,800, not including drones and trainer aircraft.About 2,250 of those are combat aircraft, at least 1,800 of which are fighters — up from 1,500 in the last report — with more than 800 of them considered fourth-generation jets.The map shows the creation of an additional bomber brigade in the PLA's Central Theater and an additional naval aviation brigade HQ in the Northern Theater.In 2019, China unveiled the H-6N, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recent-bomber-flights-reflect-chinas-rapid-military-modernization-2022-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a version of its H-6 bomber</a> that carries a potentially nuclear-armed air-launched ballistic missile under its fuselage and is capable of air-to-air refueling.<div type="image" title="China military aviation units map" height="1210" width="1192" msid="90580124" hostid="261"></div>Now officially in service, an H-6N was <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a34416759/chinese-bomber-carrying-hypersonic-missile-video/" target="_top">spotted</a> carrying what is believed to be a hypersonic missile in October 2020, raising concerns that China is improving its nascent nuclear triad.The PLAAF continues to <a href="https://www.airforcemag.com/new-two-seat-chinese-j-20/" target="_top">expand and upgrade</a> its fleet of J-20 stealth aircraft. China is also <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/reviewing-chinas-new-stealth-fighters/" target="_top">testing</a> a second stealth fighter, the FC-31, which is likely to be the PLAN's next carrier-based fighter.The PLAAF's Airborne Corps — an airborne unit similar to US paratrooper units — is made up of six combined-arms brigades, with three classified as light motorized, two as mechanized, and one as air assault.In addition to the <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/chinas-airborne-fighting-vehicles-are-no-joke-190146" target="_top">ZBD-03</a> tracked armored vehicle, which can be air-dropped, the Corps has a <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202005/12/WS5eb9e969a310a8b241154e57.html" target="_top">new </a><a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202005/12/WS5eb9e969a310a8b241154e57.html" target="_top">wheeled</a><a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202005/12/WS5eb9e969a310a8b241154e57.html" target="_top"> armored vehicle</a> that can also be air-dropped.The increasing sophistication and number of aircraft and weaponry in the PLAAF arsenal led the Pentagon to caution that it "is rapidly catching up to Western air forces," a trend that is "gradually eroding longstanding and significant U.S. military technical advantages."

Updated Pentagon maps reveal the Chinese military's growing reach

Army chief general <keyword id="7912696" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="M-M-Naravane">M M Naravane</keyword> on Tuesday said that he was hopeful that the Indian and Chinese militaries will be able to reach an agreement on disengagement and de-escalation of tension in eastern Ladakh. In an address at a seminar, the army chief said senior military commanders of India and China are holding talks to iron out modalities for deescalation of tension in eastern Ladakh. "We are hopeful of reaching an agreement which is mutually acceptable and is really beneficial in keeping with the overarching policy guidelines," he said. The chief of Army staff also said that the situation in eastern Ladakh is quite stable. General Naravane was speaking at a conclave organised by Bharatshakti.in, a portal on defence and military issues. Referring to Indian troops deployed in the high-altitude region, he said they are equipped with appropriate clothing and weapons, and added that there is no shortage whatsoever. India and China are likely to hold another round of military talks to discuss specific proposals for a possible breakthrough in the long-negotiated disengagement process in eastern Ladakh. The eighth round of Corps Commander-level talks on Friday had broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points and both sides would like to take forward the "constructive" dialogue to the next round with detailed deliberations, sources had said. In a joint statement released earlier on Friday, the <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) described the talks as candid, in-depth and constructive. The statement said it was agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and ensure that the frontline troops exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation. Nearly 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed in a high state of combat readiness in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero conditions as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded any concrete outcome yet to resolve the standoff. China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials. The standoff between the two sides erupted in early May. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/checkout-here-bihar-assembly-election-2020-results-and-updates-online/articleshow/79142084.cms">Bihar Election Results 2020: NDA widens its lead while RJD remains the single largest party</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/prime-minister-modi-hits-out-pakistan-and-china-during-sco-summit-attempts-are-being-made-to-rake-bilateral-issues/articleshow/79148767.cms">Prime Minister Modi takes a dig at Pakistan and China during SCO summit — ‘attempts are being made to rake up bilateral issues’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-down-users-complain-of-frozen-timelines-and-likes/articleshow/79146012.cms">Instagram down for over four hours— users complain of frozen timelines and likes</a>

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