Desk:After years of efforts to restore relations, India and China seem to be getting back on track. However, China continues its strategic maneuvers along the border. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has recently expanded electricity supply to its border outposts, including those in high-altitude and remote areas. According to a report published earlier this month by PLA Daily, strategic locations along the China-India border—such as Zaidullah in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Ngari Prefecture in Tibet—are now fully integrated into China’s national power grid. Strengthening infrastructure at these border posts indicates China’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its position.
The report highlights that “the electricity and renewable energy used at most border outposts provide strong support to keep soldiers warm and safe during winter. This initiative marks a structural transformation in the energy security of all high-altitude border security outposts.” It further claims that this development has resolved long-standing challenges for border troops, including access to drinking water, heating, bathing, and oxygen supply.
China has long focused on improving power supply for its border troops as part of its broader strategy. In late 2016, the Chinese military and the National Energy Administration launched a project to integrate border outposts into the national power grid. By January last year, 700 border outposts had been connected to China’s national grid. The report also mentioned that stable and efficient electricity supply has significantly enhanced emergency response capabilities by improving the operation of war equipment, command and control systems, and energy-dependent information technology tools.
Zaidullah, located at an altitude of approximately 3,700 meters (12,139 feet) near Aksai Chin—a disputed region between India and China—has been a hotspot of tensions. In 2020, the Galwan Valley clash near Aksai Chin resulted in violent confrontations between Indian and Chinese troops, leading to casualties on both sides. While India publicly acknowledged the loss of its soldiers, China remained ambiguous about its casualty figures. The conflict strained bilateral relations, leading to multiple military and diplomatic negotiations aimed at de-escalation.
Recently, both nations have made progress in diplomatic talks, including an agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, set to commence this year. However, China’s recent border infrastructure expansion raises concerns about its long-term strategic intentions, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore stability.