China, which claimed to have withdrawn its army after violent clashes in the Galwan Valley last year, has now intensified the movement near the border of Arunachal Pradesh. Indeed, China has completed highway construction in remote areas of the southeastern part of Tibet, which is near the border of Arunachal Pradesh and could pose a challenge to India’s security. This highway also includes a 2 km long tunnel.
This highway cuts through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Pass, the deepest pass in the world and probably ends up in Baibung County, which is near the border of Bishing village in Arunachal Pradesh.
Bushing village falls in the Gelling circle of Arunachal Pradesh, which touches the McMahon border. The McMahon line marks the de facto border between China and India.
China does not consider Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and claims that it falls in southern Tibet. The highway is part of China’s ambitious plans to build roads and tunnels near the LAC with India. This will also connect remote areas of China to cities and airports.
With the commissioning of this highway, the journey between Ningchi and the border village adjacent to the urban area of Tibet will be reduced to just 8 hours. It is believed that this highway will also play a big role in the planning of China’s mega Yarlung Zangbo hydro-power project. Explain that the Yarlung Zangbo river of Tibet flows into India and forms the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam. From here, this river goes to Bangladesh.
According to Chinese media, the construction of this highway was completed on 16 May. This highway has been constructed 228 days before its deadline. Earlier, China had also built a 2114 meter long tunnel and 67.22 km road between Madog and Ningchi, bordering India.
Claude Arpi, a Tibetan living in India, says, “The road has undoubtedly strategic importance. The first is because it is near the actual border line and the second is because all the constructions that China has made in Tibet have been done according to both military and civilian use.
