The PRC today isn't dependent on putting more troops in Siachen Glacier to fortiify its borders.
Canada's best defense in the past against being swallowed by the US was to build a railway across the nation and promote settlement westwards. With populated towns and cities, it's easier to maintain your claim than leaving them empty.
Unfortunately, Tibet region is both landlocked and high-altitutde, so a railroad across the border region with India and establishing settlements is out of the question. But the Qingzang Railway will at least bring more economic development to Lhasa and fortify PRC claim to the area, contributing to the "China Western Development" effort.
China's western region (as defined by the Western Development plan) accounts for 71% of China's territory but only contains 29% of its population and 17% of total economic output. Populating and developing those areas will fortify the PRC hold a lot better than putting more troops in. Look at it this way, who's going to invade from those border regions today?? The only threat is poverty, local nationalism, and instability.
Canada's best defense in the past against being swallowed by the US was to build a railway across the nation and promote settlement westwards. With populated towns and cities, it's easier to maintain your claim than leaving them empty.
Unfortunately, Tibet region is both landlocked and high-altitutde, so a railroad across the border region with India and establishing settlements is out of the question. But the Qingzang Railway will at least bring more economic development to Lhasa and fortify PRC claim to the area, contributing to the "China Western Development" effort.
China's western region (as defined by the Western Development plan) accounts for 71% of China's territory but only contains 29% of its population and 17% of total economic output. Populating and developing those areas will fortify the PRC hold a lot better than putting more troops in. Look at it this way, who's going to invade from those border regions today?? The only threat is poverty, local nationalism, and instability.