The conclusion of the 2026 BRICS Summit has been accompanied by a potentially significant development on the India-China border, with signs that Beijing has reduced the forward deployment of its troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A recent Defence Ministry report indicates that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) maintained 10 Combined Arms Brigades in areas connected with the LAC and army training zones in 2025, but its overall deployment opposite India’s northern frontier declined. The development could provide another indication that the prolonged military standoff since 2020 is gradually entering a less confrontational phase.
The India-China border has remained one of the most closely watched security theatres in Asia since the eastern Ladakh confrontation erupted in 2020. The military standoff resulted in a substantial buildup of troops, weapons and infrastructure on both sides of the LAC. What began as a localized confrontation eventually developed into a prolonged strategic contest, compelling India to maintain a high level of military preparedness across difficult Himalayan terrain.
Against this backdrop, any reduction in Chinese military deployment assumes considerable importance. The Defence Ministry's report provides an assessment of the PLA's presence in areas associated with the LAC and its training infrastructure. It notes the deployment of 10 Combined Arms Brigades in Chinese locations linked to the frontier and in Army Training Areas during 2025. At the same time, the report points to a reduction in China's overall troop deployment opposite India's northern border.
The reported change comes after several rounds of military and diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing. Following the 2020 crisis, commanders and diplomats from both countries remained engaged in negotiations aimed at preventing further escalation and resolving outstanding issues. India has repeatedly maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the broader relationship between the two countries.
A significant phase of disengagement took place in 2024, when troops moved back from several friction points. The subsequent reduction in China's deployment during 2025 suggests that the disengagement process may have begun translating into a broader lowering of military pressure in some sectors.
However, troop reduction should not automatically be interpreted as a complete resolution of the border dispute. The LAC remains undemarcated in several areas, and both countries continue to maintain substantial military capabilities in the region. China has also invested heavily in roads, airfields, logistics facilities and other infrastructure close to the frontier. India, meanwhile, has accelerated its own border infrastructure and military preparedness.
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