The Chinese order of battle in the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.
Background CCP General Secretary and CMC ChairmanXi JinpingCommander of the Western Theater CommandZhao Zongqi (Until Dec 2020) Zhang XudongDeputy Commander of the Western Theater CommandWang QiangTheatre Command HQChengduGround Forces, HQLanzhou, Gansu Prior deployment in Eastern Ladakh included 362nd and 363rd Border Defence Regiments. Companies from 362nd were stationed at Khurnak Fort and Spanggur Tso. 363rd have companies at Kongka La near Gogra/Hot Springs.A patrol boat squadron is deployed on Pangong Tso. 362nd and 363rd occupied pickets as the skirmishes progressed.
In April 2020, the 4th (Highland) Motorised Infantry and 6th (Highland) Mechanised Infantry Divisions of the Western Theatre Command took part in pre-planned annual exercises in the Gobi desert and Aksai Chin. Following this the divisions moved towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The divisions stayed in eastern Ladakh from May 2020 to February 2021 following which they rotated with the 8th and the 11th Motorised Divisions. A total of 90% of China's deployment in Ladakh is rotated. Amidst the standoff, military in Xinjiang has undergone modernisation.
6th Mechanised Infantry Division
People's Liberation Army Ground Force 6th Highland Mechanised Infantry Division at Depsang Plains. Two mechanised infantry regiments/brigades 7th Mechanised Infantry Regiment 18th Mechanised Infantry Regiment One armoured regiment Combat support includes a field artillery regiment, air defence regiment, combat engineer battalion, electronic warfare battalion, CBRN defence battalion, divisional reconnaissance battalion Each mechanised infantry regiment/brigade has four mechanised battalions A tank battalion Artillery battalion Combat support is provided by an engineer battalion and a signal battalion Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment A battalion of 24 GZ-09 PGZ-07 A battalion of 18 HQ-17 systems Six FN-6 Aviation regiment Squadron of Harbin Z-9G and Mi-17I
4th Motorised Infantry Division
People's Liberation Army Ground Force 4th Highland Motorised Infantry Division at Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso. 11th Motorised Infantry Regiment following standard table of organisation 12th Motorised Infantry Regiment A tank regiment, artillery regiment Anti-tank, anti-aircraft artillery battalions Type 86 ICVs, WZ-551, 6 x 6 APCs, VN-1 8 x 8 APCs with Red Arrow 10 Army Groups providing the following support: Artillery brigade Two battalions of PCL-181 Two battalions of PHL-03 A battalion of twin-barreled 35mm towed anti-aircraft guns Twelve FM-90
PLA Air Force
PLA Air Force 6th Fighter Division, Yinchuan, Ningxia Regiment of J-11 Shenyang Regiment of Chengdu J-7 Regiment of Chengdu J-7Es 33rd and 37th Fighter Division, Chongqing and Urumqi Bomber and transport division, Lintong and Qionglai
See also
Chinese People's Volunteer Army order of battle
References
Further reading
Kevin McCauley (13 January 2017) Snapshot: China's Western Theater Command. China Brief 17: 1. Jamestown Foundation. Kashif Anwar (16 August 2021). Chinese Drones in East Ladakh and India's Response . Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi.