- along the border—instead they use sticks and clubs as weapons—however both Chinese and Indian forces sustained injuries. Media reports described the skirmish as the worst since the 2020 Galwan Valley incident.
- On 20 December, China and India held the 17th round of Corps Commander-level talks at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point in China. This round of talks was not announced—unlike previous talks—and came 10 days after Chinese and Indian forces clashed along the eastern sector of the LAC near the Yangtse area of Tawang, India. No agreements were made during this meeting and both sides pledged to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels.
NORTHERN THEATER COMMAND
Key Takeaways
- The Northern Theater Command is oriented toward the Korean Peninsula and Russian border security.
- In September 2022, the Northern Theater Command sent a 2,000 member contingent of army, navy, and air force units to participate in the Russia-hosted multi-national military exercise Vostok-2022.
The Northern Theater Command includes the PRC’s provinces bordering Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, and the Yellow Sea. It is responsible for operations along China’s northern periphery and border security associated with North Korean, Russia, and Mongolia. PLA units located within the Northern Theater Command include the 78th, 79th, and 80th Group Armies; the Northern Theater Navy and its naval aviation division and two marine brigades; and two operational PLAAF bases, one special mission aircraft division, and one flying academy; and one PLARF base.
During a contingency, the Northern Theater Command likely exercises command over some SSF units in theater and receives strategic intelligence support from the SSF to improve battlefield awareness and facilitate joint operations within the theater. The North Sea Fleet is responsible primarily for protecting the sea approaches to northern China but could provide mission-critical assets to support other fleets during contingencies located beyond the Northern Theater. In 2022, Northern Theater Command forces conducted various joint and single service training activities including carrier navigation and flight training, and likely conducted UAS training.
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
