China Studieswhitepaper
The Himalayan Calculus: China's Border Strategy After Galwan
By Sravan Puttagunta·1 September 2025
Four years after the Galwan clash, this analysis examines the PLA's evolving forward posture along the Line of Actual Control and its implications for Indian deterrence.
Introduction
The June 2020 Galwan Valley clash fundamentally altered the India-China strategic relationship. What had been managed through periodic patrolling friction became an acute, militarized standoff requiring the deployment of tens of thousands of troops from both sides along the LAC.
PLA Doctrine
The People's Liberation Army has accelerated infrastructure construction across the LAC — roads, helipads, and dual-use villages that serve as forward positioning. This is not escalation; it is the deliberate creation of facts on the ground.
India's Deterrence Options
India must invest in high-altitude warfare capability, extend the Mountain Strike Corps, and deepen intelligence sharing with Quad partners regarding PLA Western Theatre Command deployments.