China Cuts LAC Troop Presence to 10 Brigades
China significantly reduced its military deployment along the Line of Actual Control during 2025, with the People’s Liberation Army presence falling to around 10 Combined Arms Brigade-sized formations, according to India’s Defence Ministry.
China Reduces PLA Deployment Along LAC
The ministry said 2025 witnessed a “significant reduction” in Chinese forces deployed opposite India’s northern borders.
Around 10 Combined Arms Brigade-sized formations remained positioned along the LAC and in traditional training areas. The reduction marks a notable easing from the heightened deployments that followed the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
India has nevertheless maintained substantial forces across all sectors of the LAC, with the Army remaining prepared for any emerging security situation.
India-China Military Dialogue Expands
The troop reduction has coincided with renewed diplomatic and military engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination held its 33rd and 34th rounds in March and July 2025, while Special Representatives talks on the boundary dispute resumed.
Military engagement also continued through Corps Commander-level meetings and regular Border Personnel Meetings aimed at resolving local issues and preventing confrontations.
India and China recently expanded senior military talks to the Arunachal Pradesh sector for the first time.
Modi-Xi Talks Add Momentum to Thaw
The development comes amid a broader improvement in bilateral ties following years of tension after the Galwan Valley clash.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where both leaders stressed the need for stable relations and peace along the border.
While troop reductions signal de-escalation, the wider India-China boundary dispute remains unresolved and both sides continue to maintain significant military infrastructure along the frontier.
