China has been actively investing in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and claiming Arunachal Pradesh as part of its expansionist policy. In response, India is leveraging its influence in the new world order and deploying its soft power to counter China’s aggressive posture on the eastern frontier.
US Involvement and the Tibet Issue A US Congressional delegation led by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, home to the Tibetan government-in-exile. This move aimed to use the Tibet issue to exert pressure on Beijing’s communist regime.
Infrastructure Push After Galwan Clash The violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 prompted India to revisit its frontier infrastructure policy along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The confrontation, the most severe in 45 years, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. Despite numerous military and diplomatic engagements, the border standoff remains unresolved.
Development of Key Border Projects India has initiated 90 infrastructure projects worth Rs 2,941 crore across 11 states and Union Territories to bridge the border infrastructure gap with China. These projects include roads, tunnels, airfields, and bridges, with 36 in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Ladakh, and 11 in Jammu and Kashmir. This follows the completion of 103 projects in 2022 and 102 projects in 2021, costing Rs 2,900 crore and Rs 2,200 crore respectively.
Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway India plans to construct the Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway (NH-913), covering 1,748 kilometers and costing ₹27,000 crores. The highway will be approximately 20 kilometers from the LAC and the McMahon Line, traversing highly contested areas between India and China in Arunachal Pradesh. This project will enhance connectivity and fortify India’s defence infrastructure in this sensitive border region.
Sela Tunnel The Sela Tunnel, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connects Guwahati in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. At 13,000 feet, it is the world’s longest bi-lane tunnel, bypassing the snow-bound Sela Pass. The tunnel reduces travel time and enhances the rapid movement of troops, weapons, and supplies along the sensitive India-China border. Despite China’s claims, there have been no Chinese incursions into Arunachal Pradesh since 1959, although the area remains a hotspot for India-China tensions.
