India’s accelerated strategic road upgrades in Ladakh are heightening concerns in Beijing, narrowing China’s traditional infrastructure advantage along the Himalayan frontier, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) Road—India’s sole land link to the Galwan Valley—completed in 2019, is now being strengthened to carry tanks and specialised trucks capable of transporting long-range missiles, boosting military mobility. India is also close to finishing a 130-kilometre alternative route west of the DSDBO Road, designed to reduce reliance on the current path and avoid detection by Chinese patrols, offering a tactical edge in the contested zone.
The Galwan Valley remains claimed in full by China, a claim India rejects. The Line of Actual Control (LAC), separating the two countries, witnessed a deadly 2020 clash that left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.
Chinese experts have warned of the strategic implications. He Xianqing of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies said India’s upgraded logistics and military capabilities “may lead to risky provocations” in border areas. He linked recent incidents to improved infrastructure, noting they occurred in regions with the best connectivity. He advised China to modernise at its own pace, focusing on advanced systems such as networks, electromagnetic technology, drone platforms, and situational awareness facilities.
Lin Minwang of Fudan University described India’s construction drive as part of an unprecedented border infrastructure race under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both nations reinforcing their presence. While China retains superior routes in Tibet—like the G219 highway and Sichuan–Tibet Railway—the gap is narrowing as India’s projects overcome mountainous terrain challenges.
Amit Ranjan of the National University of Singapore said India’s objective was clear: to speed troop movement in emergencies. Meanwhile, China has strengthened border surveillance since 2020, deploying intelligent monitoring towers with thermal imaging and night vision—capabilities in which India lags.
Despite ongoing competition, both sides have taken steps toward easing tensions. A patrol agreement signed last year aims to restore the pre-2020 status quo, and Prime Minister Modi is expected in China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit—his first visit in seven years. However, analysts warn the rapid pace of infrastructure development could inflame disputes, with He Xianqing stressing that trust-building, not just road-building, is key to long-term stability.
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