India-China Negotiations Stalled Amid Infrastructure Development & Military Buildup Along LAC

New Delhi: Peace talks between India and China have made little headway, with both sides refusing to make concessions on the contested border. Meanwhile, China has continued to develop infrastructure and build up its military along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), raising concerns in India.

According to a recent report, China has built underground storage facilities near Doklam, new roads along the LAC, new villages in disputed areas near Bhutan, a second bridge over Pangong Lake, and a dual-purpose airport in the central sector. The report also reveals that China deployed significant military forces in different sectors of the LAC in 2022, with most of these forces still present along the border.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that India is engaging with China at both military and diplomatic levels to resolve border issues. He has emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding India’s borders and rejected claims of significant changes or encroachments on the LAC since the government’s formation.

However, the Pentagon report has highlighted China’s growing military capabilities, including its nuclear program and naval expansion. The report states that China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is projected to have over 1,000 by 2030. It also notes that the Chinese Navy is already the world’s largest.

The India-China border dispute is one of the longest-running border disputes in the world. The two countries have fought a war over the border in 1962, and there have been several skirmishes and standoffs in recent years.