China's ambitious plan to construct a strategic railway link from Tibet to Xinjiang, passing close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, is raising significant security concerns for India, according to Tibetan experts and strategic analysts. This railway, which will connect Hotan in Xinjiang to Shigatse in Tibet and link to the existing Lhasa-Shigatse line, is seen as a move that will enable China to mobilize troops and military supplies more rapidly to the contested border areas.
The proposed route will traverse challenging terrains, including the Kunlun, Karakoram, Kailash, and Himalayan mountain ranges, at an average elevation of over 4,500 meters. It will pass through glaciers, frozen rivers, and permafrost, where winter temperatures can plunge to -40 degrees Celsius and oxygen levels are significantly lower than in inland regions. The project poses considerable engineering challenges due to the harsh weather, difficult terrain, and environmental sensitivities of the Tibetan Plateau.
The railway's proximity to the LAC and its passage through Aksai Chin, a region claimed by India but controlled by China since 1962, are the primary sources of India's security apprehensions. Tsundue, a Tibetan expert, noted that parts of the route would come as close as 20-30 km from the Demchok border in Ladakh. This infrastructure development will provide China with a significant advantage in rapidly deploying troops and defense equipment to the border area, potentially escalating tensions and undermining regional stability.
The strategic implications of the railway extend beyond military mobilization. It is expected to improve China's control and logistics supply to border defense villages, which serve as a buffer zone and watch post. Chinese scholars have emphasized the railway's importance in delivering "strategic material" to the border.
India's concerns are further amplified by China's broader pattern of infrastructure development along its borders, including rail lines to Gyirong, a land port on the Nepal-Tibet border, and Yadong county in the Chumbi Valley, near India's Sikkim and Bhutan. The Chumbi Valley is a particularly sensitive area, having been the site of the 2017 Doklam standoff. These developments collectively enhance China's ability to project power and influence in the region.
In response to China's infrastructure push, India has been taking steps to improve its own border infrastructure. These include the construction of bridges, tunnels, and roads to enhance connectivity and facilitate troop movement. India is also focusing on strengthening its railway network in the Kashmir valley and Arunachal Pradesh. The strategic Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road, the sole land link to the Galwan Valley, is being reinforced to handle tanks and long-range missile carriers, and a stealthier alternative road is under construction.
The construction of the Xinjiang-Tibet railway is overseen by the newly formed Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company (XTRC), a state-owned entity with a registered capital of 95 billion yuan ($13.2 billion). The project is part of China's plan to create a 5,000-kilometer plateau rail framework centered on Lhasa by 2035. While China portrays the railway as a means to promote economic and social development in the western region, analysts believe it is integral to China's national security architecture and border security goals. The railway project's dual-use nature and potential for military coercion necessitate that India remain vigilant and strengthen its defense infrastructure and international partnerships to safeguard its national security.
