The US and India will practice combat training at high altitude less than 100 km from the disputed territory, which is also claimed by China. In June, the United States expressed concern over China’s development of military infrastructure in the region.
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US and Indian troops will take part in a joint military exercise in October in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, which is located near the disputed territory where the India-China border runs.
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The exercise will focus on combat training at high altitude, and will take place at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), about 95 km from the line of actual control, an unnamed source said.
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The Pentagon said that the partnership with the Indian side for the United States is “one of the most important elements” of the overall vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercises between the American and Indian armies will improve “interoperability” to ensure regional security, the Pentagon is sure.
In May, the Indian Foreign Ministry reported that China was building a second bridge over Pangong Lake in a disputed area that New Delhi considers occupied by Beijing. During a visit to India in June, US Army Commander General Charles Flynn called China’s development of military infrastructure on the border with India “alarming” and “instructive.” China then assessed the visit of the American general as an attempt to “stoke the flames.”
