The border conflict is increasingly a race to plant new infrastructure. Indian officials say that China has forced civilians to move closer to the border, to villages near Pangong lake (which is split between the two sides). That is because having housing and other amenities in these areas makes it easier to keep troops in forward locations. A new bridge over the lake that opened in July 2024 will allow China to move forces around much more quickly. All told, the number of Chinese structures along the LAC has risen ten-fold since Galwan. India seeks to keep up. “If he builds a hut,” says one senior officer, “we build a hut.” India has constructed underground ammunition dumps and tunnels. A new road over the Saser La pass, at 17,660 feet, will provide routes to the LAC which are less vulnerable to Chinese interdiction. But China’s rate of infrastructure development, swelled by larger budgets, is at least four times that of India, says one officer.
