China is about to complete a new highway near its border with India which can potentially allow a rapid mobilization of their troops which can be used if these countries ever have a military standoff. China has been worried about its G219 highway which runs along the country’s entire western and southern border linking the regions of Xinjiang and Tibet. Chinese military strategists call the G219 highway its Achilles heel during conflict with India which is why they are about to complete the alternate route known as the G216. Rakesh Sharma, a retired Indian Army general, says that difficult terrain prevented the G216 from being built in the past, but Beijing has since overcome that challenge. “G216 and G219 now become the highways for the logistical sustenance of the forces in these areas as they connect across to the main highway which comes out of Xinjiang. These are two axials developed for logistical sustenance and movement of forces up and down,” India is expanding their strategic infrastructure on its side of the border amid the lingering specter of armed conflict with China in the future.
I believe that this will have a lasting impact on the region and lead to India wanting to secure its border with China even more. China is a growing powerhouse within the international landscape. India will likely build other defensive infrastructure such as highways, walls, etc. India is soon to be one of the most powerful countries in the world and I believe it is logical that China is protecting its border from India. With the new highways being built in China if they ever come into conflict with India, China would be much more secure and it will lead to India wanting to protect themselves more than invade China.
This relates to our international relations class because of international security. China is making its border with India more powerful. They want to protect themselves and/or possibly invade to make their countries more powerful which also relates to realist theory. India will have to respond to the threat of China’s new infrastructure. They want to keep the security of their country in check as well. This situation relates better to National Security at a regional level because the countries are protecting their territory and borders from other countries. The countries are also taking a unilateral approach to this situation since nothing has really happened yet.