China’s ‘border defence’ villages and the challenges they pose, Pg17

Key Highlights

• China has built 628 Xiaokang (well-off) villages near the LAC, with 72% of them located in the northeastern sector and almost 90% specifically opposite Arunachal Pradesh.
• These settlements are strategically positioned in "contested areas" where the boundary between the two nations is not mutually agreed upon.
• While many of these structures were initially vacant, recent reports indicate that Chinese nationals began occupying several villages in late 2023, particularly near the Lohit Valley and Tawang sector.
• India has countered this move with the "Vibrant Villages Programme," focusing on 663 border villages to improve amenities, connectivity, and tourism as a deterrent to migration.
• Both countries are locked in an infrastructure race, aggressively building double-story buildings, all-weather roads, and bridges to improve logistics and forward connectivity.

Detailed Insights

• The Dual-Use Strategy: The Xiaokang villages are designed for both civilian habitation and military support. By settling populations in these areas, China creates a "human shield" and a permanent presence that complicates Indian defense maneuvers.
• The 2022 Land Border Law: China implemented a law on January 1, 2022, that legally mandates the state to strengthen border defense and develop infrastructure. This provides a formal domestic legal framework for the ongoing village construction.
• Arunachal Pradesh as a Focal Point: The high concentration of villages opposite Arunachal Pradesh highlights China's continued focus on the Eastern Sector, which it refers to as "South Tibet."
• India's Pilot Projects: Under the initial phase of India's response, 17 villages across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh have been selected for pilot development to test the effectiveness of the Vibrant Villages model.
• The LAC Length Dispute: A major challenge remains the disagreement over the LAC's length; India identifies it as 3,488 km, while China claims it is approximately 2,000 km, leading to frequent overlapping claims in these village zones.

Key Concepts Involved

• Line of Actual Control (LAC): The effective border between India and China that lacks a formal, mutually agreed-upon map.
• Vibrant Villages Programme: An Indian initiative launched in 2022 to develop border villages as modern hubs, preventing migration and enhancing security.
• Territorial Encroachment: The gradual, often subtle, movement into another nation's perceived or actual territory, often using infrastructure as a pretext.