India's Defence Ministry says China reduced troop deployments opposite India in 2025, though 10 Combined Arms Brigade‑size PLA units remain in some areas along the LAC. The report stresses India’s "robust" military posture and accelerated Himalayan infrastructure work. These shifts follow a diplomatic thaw including Xi’s BRICS visit and an October 2024 meeting with PM Modi.
India Says China Scaled Back Troops Along LAC in 2025 Amid Diplomatic Thaw
This video frame grab taken from footage recorded in mid-June 2020 and released by China Central Television (CCTV) on Feb. 20, 2021, shows Indian soldiers crossing a river during an incident where Chinese and Indian troops clashed in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley, in the Karakoram Mountains in the Himalayas. (CCTV/AFP via Getty Images)
NEW DELHI — India’s Defence Ministry reported that China substantially reduced the number of troops deployed opposite India in 2025, attributing the drawdown to stepped-up political, diplomatic and military engagement that eased tensions between the two Asian powers.
Details From the 2025–26 Defence Report
The ministry's annual report said: "The year 2025 witnessed significant reduction in deployment of People's Liberation Army (PLA) Force opposite Northern Borders, with 10 Combined Arms Brigade size forces each deployed in areas along the LAC and in traditional training areas." The Line of Actual Control (LAC) denotes the roughly 3,500-kilometre Indo‑Chinese frontier in the Himalayas, much of which remains disputed.
The report did not disclose exact figures for Indian troop levels but said the Indian Army's posture "in all sectors" along the LAC remains "robust, well poised, and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency."
Infrastructure and Readiness
New Delhi highlighted accelerated construction of tunnels, roads and other all-weather infrastructure in the Himalayas, saying these projects are critical for the rapid movement of troops, equipment and supplies. Analysts note China has also expanded infrastructure on its side, underlining that both countries continue to prioritise long-term military readiness even as troop concentrations ease.
"Maintaining a strong dissuasive posture and preparedness along the borders is an imperative. We cannot scale down our defenses irrespective of troop numbers," said retired Brigadier Arun Sahgal, director of the Forum for Strategic Initiatives in New Delhi.
Diplomatic Context
The report arrives amid a broader thaw in India‑China ties: Chinese President Xi Jinping visited New Delhi for the BRICS summit — his first trip to India in seven years — and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders reaffirmed a commitment to seek a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" resolution of the boundary question, building on an agreement reached after Xi and Modi met in Russia in October 2024 that helped end the standoff in eastern Ladakh.
While the reported reduction in PLA deployments is a positive sign, officials and analysts stress the need for continued diplomatic engagement and sustained military readiness along the disputed frontier.
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