How China Is Quietly Bracing for Conflict With India

Infrastructure Development & Military Implications - China is investing over $40 billion on a railway connecting Changdu to Lassa, reducing travel time from 34 hours to 13 hours [1] - China is constructing extensive roads, heliports, airports, and border villages along its 2,000mi border with India, raising concerns about potential military applications [2] - China's ability to mobilize forces on the Indian border has decreased from a month in the late 90s/early 2000s to 5-7 days [7] - China completed the Chihai Tibet Railroad in 2006 for over $4 billion and is developing the Sichuan Tibet Railway to improve access to the disputed border [8] Military & Strategic Balance - China's Western Theater Command covers approximately 2.6 million square miles, which is over 80% of the area of the contiguous United States [3] - China is estimated to have over 600 nuclear warheads, while India is estimated to have only 180 nuclear warheads [10] - China's border development includes increasing the population in border areas by 10.5% between 2018 and 2023 [12] - China employs "salami slicing tactics" to gain incremental advantages along its borders [14] Geopolitical Tensions & Future Outlook - India's construction of a road near the border was cited as a contributing factor to a deadly clash in 2020 [5] - Experts believe the situation remains tense, with potential for miscalculation and misperceptions despite both countries needing each other [15][16]