From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : China has completed construction of a strategic highway through the Brahmaputra Valley. It is close to the Arunachal Pradesh border and is working on its plan to build a mega dam over the pit. China, which claimed to have withdrawn its troops after last year’s violent clashes in the Galwan Valley, has now intensified a stir near the Arunachal Pradesh border. The Chinese highway will play an important role in taking over The North Eastern States of India.
Chinese newspapers have said that the North-East will now be occupied in China and India will have to bear the consequences. Arunachal Pradesh was part of China, is a part and will remain a part of China. In fact, China has completed construction of highways in remote areas of the southeastern part of Tibet, which is near the arunachal pradesh border and could pose a challenge to India’s security. The highway also includes a 2 km long tunnel.The highway cuts through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Pass, the world’s deepest pass, and probably ends in Baibang County, near the border of Bishing village in Arunachal Pradesh. Bishing village falls in the Galeng Circle of Arunachal Pradesh, which touches the McMahon border.
The McMahon line marks the actual border between China and India. China does not consider Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and claims that it falls in southern Tibet. The highway is part of China’s ambitious plans to build roads and tunnels near LAC with India. It will also connect remote areas of China with cities and airports. With the commissioning of this highway, the journey between Ningchi, an urban area of Tibet, and the village along the border will be reduced to just 8 hours. The highway is also expected to play a major role in planning China’s Mega Yarlung Zangbo Hydro-Power Project. Tell us that the Yarlung Zangbo river of Tibet flows into India and forms the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra river in Assam. From here this river goes to Bangladesh. According to the report, the construction of the highway was completed on May 16.
The highway has been constructed 228 days before its deadline. Earlier, China had also constructed a 2114 metre long tunnel and a 67.22 km road between Medog and Ningchi bordering India. “The road is of course of strategic importance,” says Claude Arpi, a Tibetan expert living in India. Firstly, because it is near the line of actual boundary and secondly because whatever constructions China has built in Tibet have been made in both military and civilian use. India is also constructing a 150 km long National Highway in Upper Siang district near the border. In November last year, Arunachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang had said that satellite survey for highway construction has been completed. A recent report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said engineers have also expressed concern about landslides and dangers posed by barrier lakes in the dam.
Brahmaputra is the longest river in Tibet and its valley is the deepest in the world with a decline of 70,000 metres from the highest mountain peak to the lowest basin. In this critical moment, Indian Army Chief General MM Narwane has arrived in Dimapur, North East on a two-day visit. General MM Narwane has landed in Dimapur. The Indian Army Chief will review the operational preparedness along the northern borders of Arunachal Pradesh and the security situation in the interior areas of North Eastern India. “On reaching the Core Headquarters in Dimapur, the Army Chief was briefed by Lt Gen Johnson Mathew, General Officer Commanding Spear Corps and Division Commanders on the current situation and operational preparedness along the northern borders,” it was reported. The Indian Army is constantly monitoring the activities of the Chinese Army, in which it is conducting an exercise in its training areas near ladakh region and there has been no “violation” from both sides since the implementation of the dissolution in Pangong Lake areas, the statement said. General Naravane also hoped that both sides would be able to move forward in resolving issues in other areas. The Indian Army Chief said the dissolution has been cordial so far, but added that Indian troops are maintaining effective surveillance to deal with any situation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Regarding a military exercise by the Chinese military in its deepest areas, General Navarane said “we have seen movements in training areas.” It is an annual exercise. They come for training. We also go to training areas. We are constantly monitoring it. We have forces on lac and they are enough to deal with any action or activity.
