China’s insecurity over the Xinjiang-Tibet highway may be one of the reasons that triggered the standoff in Ladakh. Sources told StratNews Global that the 2000-km highway which runs through Aksai Chin is about 70-80 km from the current Line of Actual Control (LAC). China’s military brass is reported to believe that given the flat terrain in Aksai Chin, it would take only a few hours for a determined enemy (India) to roll tanks and troops across and cut the highway. That explains China’s efforts to go beyond the current LAC and try and establish a new LAC in Ladakh. The effort failed but China is unlikely to give up.
