Why Galwan Valley has become the flashpoint in India-China conflict once again?
Avoid holding large scale military exercises
Galwan Valley is located at an altitude of almost 17,000 feet with extreme weather conditions and sub-zero temperatures. A valley that gets its name from the Galwan river - this 1960 claim line is the de facto of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the valley.
The Galwan Valley falls under sub-sector north (SSN) and is one of the points that has direct access to Aksai Chin from India.
Galwan Valley has become a flashpoint in India-China conflict again because of India's construction in the area.
India is building a network of feeder roads which lead to the 224-km Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road which is at least 10 kilometers inside the (Line of Actual Control) LAC. Daulat Beg Oldi is the northern-most corner of the Indian territory of Ladakh.
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It also houses the world's highest landing strip - the Daulat Beg Oldi landing strip. The Indian Air Force has successfully landed the C17 Globemaster aircraft here.
In case of a war or conflict, India can now ferry thousands of troops to the region within hours. China's fears intensified when India built a bridge, the Colonel Chewang Rinchen Setu, across the Shyok river. The idea was to facilitate Indian troop movement in the region.
Even before China could digest this, India began constructing another bridge across the Galwan Nullah. This concrete bridge is a part of the feeder road project and it replaces an existing wooden structure, to allow heavy military movement.
It was this bridge that triggered the latest standoff. A nervous China deployed its troops along the LAC to put pressure on India to stop road construction.
Also Read: 35 Chinese soldiers dead in Galwan Valley clash
The Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road, the feeder roads and the landing strip have all cemented India's dominance in the region.
Now, China's biggest fear is India's recovery of Aksai Chin which was captured by China in 1962. The Galwan area was among the biggest flashpoints during the 1962 war too and it has become a flashpoint again.
India has a strategic advantage in the region and its borders are secured. India is stepping up infrastructure, on its own side of the border, and on its own land. The idea is to help Indian forces reach remote locations quickly and that is why China is protesting because its border transgressions are being challenged.