'Activity Level Eye-Opening, Alarming': Top US General Expresses Concern Over Chinese Infra Build-Up Near Ladakh

The destablising and destructive way of behaving that they project into the Indo-Pacific region is just not supportive, Flynn said.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing border dispute between India and China, US General Charles A. Flynn has called China's activities in Ladakh a bell of danger on Wednesday. He said, the weakening and destructive way of behaving of the Chinese Community Party (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific region is just not supportive and defence infrastructure that is being set up by China close to its boundary with India is disturbing. When asked about his assessment of the India-China border standoff in Ladakh, Flynn told reporters here, "I believe that the activity level is eye-opening and I think the some of the infrastructure that is being created in the (Chinese Army's) western theatre command is alarming."

Flynn said when one sees China's military arsenal in all domains, one must ask the question of why is it needed.

"So, I do not have a crystal ball to tell you how it (India-China border standoff) is going to end or where we will be at. I will express to you that it is worthy of asking this question and try to get their response as to what are their intentions" he noted.

The talks that are going on between India and China are helpful, he added.

"However, behaviour matters here as well. So, understanding what they are saying is one thing but the way they are acting and behaving by the way of build-up is concerning. It should be concerning to every one of us," he noted.

Flynn also talked about how the behaviour of China changed between 2014 and 2022.

"I was in this command from 2014 to 2018 as the commander of 25th infantry division and then the deputy commanding general of my current command (United States Army Pacific) as a two-star general. Then I left and went to the Pentagon to be the operations officer for the Army for three years and I came back a year ago," he noted.

He said when he thinks back on what the CCP and the PRC (People's Republic of China) were doing than what they are doing today, one might say that they have taken a gradual and deceptive way.

The destablising and destructive way of behaving that they project into the Indo-Pacific region is just not supportive, he added.

"Our ability to strengthen the relationships in the region as a counterweight to those destablising activities and to strengthen the network of allies and partners and like-minded countries that care about the protection of their people, national sovereignty, land, resources, free and open Pacific Ocean and society, he said.

"I think it is worthy of us working together as a counterweight to some of those corrosive and corruptive behaviours that the Chinese do," he said.

In January, satellite images showed China was building a bridge near Pangong Lake. Apart from this, China has intensified the construction of airstrips, and roads, which gives a direct challenge to India from China in the Himalayan region. So far 15 rounds of military talks have been held between India and China regarding the border dispute, but no solution has been found so far on this issue.

(With PTI inputs)