There was a significant reduction in the deployment of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) along India’s northern borders in 2025, even as Beijing continued to maintain 10 combined arms brigade-sized formations in areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and in traditional training areas, according to the Defence Ministry’s annual report for 2025-2026, released on Sunday (September 13, 2026).
The meeting was described by the Ministry as part of the constructive discourse between the two sides. The report said the improvement in bilateral relations was further reinforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin in August 2025. The military-to-military engagement also saw a positive trajectory, with the 23rd Corps Commander-level meeting held in eastern Ladakh on October 25 and 26, 2025.
The report said the Indian Army’s deployment across all sectors along the LAC remained robust, well poised, and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency. On India-China engagements, the Ministry said sustained political, diplomatic, and military interactions between the two countries have facilitated positive developments along the northern borders and contributed to stability.
