Satellite images reveal PLA logistics hub in Tibet
NEW DELHI: China is working on what appears to be a major military logistics hub at Xigatse in Tibet, according to new satellite images, with experts saying the move is in line with Beijing’s efforts to ramp up connectivity for operations all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The images, shared on Monday by the open-source intelligence analyst who uses the name @detresfa on Twitter, show infrastructure upgrades south of Xigatse airport that link the facility to a rail terminal. The imagery suggests the infrastructure will be part of a logistics hub for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Among the structures captured by the images are a surface-to-air missile site, a suspected military support building, a new railway terminal and new railway line, and a possible fuel dump.
The images also show what appears to be a newly developed underground facility.
Earlier images of this suspected underground facility captured what appeared to be two tunnel entrances. There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the development.
Sim Tack, a Belgium-based security analyst for Force Analysis,
said there was mounting evidence in form of satellite imagery of China’s upgrade of logistics facilities and connectivity across the Tibet Autonomous Region. The satellite images also suggested infrastructure is being upgraded or built to support military operations all along the LAC, from Aksai Chin to Arunachal Pradesh, he said.
“All these logistical upgrades, including the construction of rail connectivity and utilities, appear to be aimed at quickly moving large numbers of forces within Tibet and from other parts of China to Tibet,” he said.
Referring to the new facility being built at Xigatse, the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous
Region, he said it could be a specialised facility where missile systems can be stored. The railway station at Xigatse is one of the largest in the region and plays a crucial role in the movement of troops and military hardware. China also has plans to extend the line from Xigatse to the border with Nepal.
“This new infrastructure is in line with China’s efforts to upgrade facilities all along the LAC. Earlier, there was evidence of the construction or upgrading of forward positions in Aksai Chin such as airbases, heliports and air defence sites. Now, there is evidence of the creation of logistical facilities,” Tack said.
“Things are moving very rapidly and it’s almost as if things are popping up out of the ground every time we review satellite imagery. Almost every day, new positions seem to be coming up as part of a very large infrastructure drive. For example, a lot of infrastructure is also being created at Golmud,” he said, referring to a city in Qinghai province that is also the third largest city on the Tibetan plateau.
Recent satellite images also show that China is setting up villages in hitherto uninhabited stretches along its disputed borders with India and Bhutan, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh. Experts believe the move is aimed at buttressing China’s territorial claims in these areas.