China accelerates border buildup: UAV testing center and new airbase operational in Tibet amid LAC tensions

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): China's duplicitous approach towards India has once again come to the fore. On the one hand, it talks about normalizing relations, while on the other, it is aggressively expanding its military and infrastructure along the border. China's focus is now even more focused on areas adjacent to Tibet. China is strengthening its military position along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Tibet. To this end, facilities related to connectivity, logistics, and troop deployment are being rapidly expanded.

Tensions between India and China have escalated repeatedly over the border dispute. Hopes of improved relations were raised after the 2017 Doklam conflict and the 2020 Galwan clash, but China's increasing activities along the border are raising questions about these claims.

China has established an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing center at an altitude of 4,300 meters in Tibet, which could help Chinese troops conduct military operations in difficult conditions. Additionally, a new military base with a 720-meter-long runway and several modern facilities, including four hangars, has been built in Tibet. This base will serve as an important logistics hub for the Chinese military.

China allocated US$30 billion for development in Tibet in its 14th Five-Year Plan. According to Chinese reports, under President Xi Jinping's leadership, Tibet's highway network has doubled, and numerous government projects are progressing rapidly. The rail network is also being steadily strengthened.

China is rapidly expanding not only along the Indian border but also in the South China Sea. It has built its first artificial island there, raising concerns among many countries, including the United States.