For the last four years, India and China have been locked in a military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The UK-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has cautioned that a war could break out between India and China by 2030.

“The second China-India War will most likely be fought in Eastern Ladakh sometime between 2025 and 2030,” the RUSI report noted. General VP Malik, former Chief of Army Staff of India, agrees with the possibility of another war.

Gen Malik, a veteran of the Indo-China war of 1962, said on The News9 Plus Show, “A war can take place any time. The agreement we signed with China for peace along the LAC in 1996 has already been broken. China attacked Eastern Ladakh sector in 2020. There have been several confrontations in the Northeast. We have to stay alert as a war can break out any time.”

Aware of that threat, the Indian government has been taking concrete steps, including a laser focus on infrastructure development in our Himalayan frontiers.

“To prepare for that situation, we have posted additional troops along the borders and changed our operational plan for passive as well as offensive operations. And infrastructure is absolutely essential for this,” Gen Malik added.

In the last three years, India has increased its budget for the Border Roads Organisation by 10 times to build up its border infrastructure. From roads and bridges to tunnels, infrastructure is being built on a war footing. The aim is to ensure faster movement of troops to India’s strategically important locations along the border.

Eastern Ladakh holds strategic significance to both the nations. A part of India, securing the region is a must for our territorial integrity. Meanwhile, China sees the region as crucial for its energy security.

Beijing might want to pre-emptively seize control of India’s Eastern Ladakh sector to avoid any attack on Kashgar. This also aligns with expansionist China’s aim to annex Indian territory into Aksai Chin, as displayed during the Galwan clashes of 2020.