Counteracting China's Influence by Improving Self-Capacity | 16 Jun 2022

With the rise of belligerent China and its increasing level of infrastructure buildup near India’s border area, there is a need for India to enhance its infrastructure capabilities to deter China from pursuing any misadventure along the LAC (Line of Actual Control), and to further develop it’s long term strategy to contain China.

What’s the Issue?

• China has been developing infrastructure along with LAC. The latest satellite images revealed that China was building a second bridge over the Pangong Tso. This bridge can carry tanks and facilitate faster movement of military forces between the north and south banks of the lake.

What kind of Infrastructure is being built by China?

• For Improving Air Assets: The first type of area is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the PLAAF (Chinese air force), as earlier, it has a limited no of operational airfields in the Tibetan plateau, and problems of operating from high altitudes were a severe handicap for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.
  • After the Doklam incident in 2017, 37 airports and heliports within Tibet and Xinjiang have been newly constructed or upgraded, of which at least 22 are identifiable as military or dual-use facilities.
  • Dual-use facilities are those infrastructures that can have both military and civilian applications. These facilities include:
    • Hardened shelters for housing military aircraft,
    • Underground facilities to ensure survivability,
    • Air defense missiles for protection,
    • Runways extension,
    • Helicopter operations facilities.
• For Enhancing Logistics: The second area is focused on the ability of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) to rapidly mobilize its forces from its mainland bases to their battle locations through an improved road and rail network.
  • In between 2015 and 2020, Tibet’s highways grew from 7,840 km to 11,820 km, a 51% increase,
  • In June 2021, a high-speed rail line connecting Lhasa and Nyingchi entered service, covering the 435 km distance in 2.5 hours.
• For Ramping up Forward Movement: The infrastructure is also being developed for speedy application of combat power at LAC.
  • China has constructed at least eight key roads toward LAC from the G219 highway, These roads provide connectivity to areas opposite important Indian military posts in Ladakh, from Daulat Beg Oldie to Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, and Chumar. In addition, infrastructure such as the bridge at Pangong Tso will assist in the faster north-south movement of troops.

What are China’s Intentions?

• China’s infrastructure buildup is aimed at reducing India’s advantage in the employment of airpower during a conflict along LAC.
• It is to overcome their shortfalls, neutralize India’s airpower edge over Tibet, and increase the PLA’s combat capability for war fighting along LAC.

What are the Challenges for India?

• It would increase the PLA’s combat capability for war fighting along LAC.
• With the improved infrastructure in Tibet and Xinjiang, China could quickly mobilize its troops on the border from its bases.
• China would be able to neutralize India’s airpower edge over Tibet.

What is the response from the Indian side?

• The Indian Army has redeployed significant forces from the Pakistan border to the northern front.
• A major push has been given to infrastructure development, improving surveillance, and construction of roads.
• After the 2020 standoff in eastern Ladakh, the government has sanctioned the construction of 32 roads along LAC.

What Could be the Way Forward?

• Build Deterrence: India must develop a strategy that strengthens its deterrent posture.
  • Deterrence is based on a strong army deployment along with LAC.
  • India must focus on capabilities that seek to impose punishing costs in the event of a conflict.
• Tactical Thinking: Apart from infrastructure development and troop deployments, which are necessary measures, there is the need for India to define a long-term military strategy.
• Superior role of the IAF and Navy: It is needed to ensure operational readiness and dominant role of airforce in high-altitude operations as China doesn't have many forward bases in the region, further harsh climate of Tibetan plateau makes transportation and mobilization of troops very difficult.
  • India also need to develop a dominant naval position in the Indian Ocean.
• Going Beyond traditional means: Capabilities must be developed in all domains to impose costs beyond the immediate area of conflict through long-range missiles, cyber warfare, space weapons, etc.