Infrastructure Development in Tibet and its Implications for India

Indo-Pacific Studies
Written By

This article was originally published in the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief Volume 21 Issue 22. 

Introduction 

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) considers Tibet an intrinsic part of Chinese territory, which it has controlled since the early 1950s. When the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered the region in 1951, Tibet was sparsely connected, both internally and with China proper. Today, it is well connected by a comprehensive network of highways, railroads, and air routes. This dual-use infrastructure (along with China’s recent military modernization and ongoing PLA reforms) helps China to manage the threats emanating from its unresolved border dispute with India, which is the PRC’s secondary strategic direction after Taiwan and the Western Pacific. Infrastructure development also supports China’s efforts to maintain internal stability within the restive Tibetan region.

Author

Featured
Suyash Desai
Suyash Desai

Suyash was an Associate Fellow working in China Studies Programme at The Takshashila Institution from 2019 to 2022. His main areas of research were on China’s defence and foreign policies. He also publishes a fortnighty newsletter on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army called the PLA Insight.

Previous

Takshashila Discussion Document - Civilian and Military Developments in Tibet
Next

Takshashila Research Note - The US & No First Use