China's construction of a new heliport just 20 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh's sensitive 'Fishtails' region has significantly escalated security concerns for India.
Satellite imagery confirms the rapid pace of construction, with the heliport nearing completion as of September 16, 2024.
Experts warn that this facility will dramatically enhance the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) capabilities in the region, facilitating swift troop deployment and bolstering both defensive and offensive postures.
It also empowers the PLA to gather intelligence and conduct surveillance in the challenging terrain, potentially altering the dynamics along the disputed border.
Retired Lt General Pravin Bakshi, former commander of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, has labeled the heliport a direct "threat" to India’s interests and called for a coordinated response with the Indian Air Force to counter potential Chinese "grey-zone warfare" tactics.
India is responding to China's aggressive border strategy with its own infrastructure development projects, including the 'Vibrant Villages' project and the trans-Arunachal highway.
However, experts caution that these efforts might not fully offset the strategic advantage China is gaining through its rapid infrastructure build-up.
The heliport's construction underscores China’s ongoing efforts to fortify its frontier with India. This, coupled with the establishment of dual-use ‘Xiaokang’ villages, has fueled concerns about China’s long-term strategy of gradually expanding its territorial control.
As India and China continue efforts to de-escalate the military standoff, the new military realities created by China since 2020 raise questions about the feasibility of achieving lasting peace in the region.
The construction of this heliport serves as a stark reminder of the challenges India faces in safeguarding its borders and maintaining its strategic interests in the face of an increasingly assertive China.
