What happened?
China is set to begin work on a major rail line connecting Hotan in Xinjiang to Lhasa in Tibet, part of which will pass near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The project will be managed by the newly launched Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company. The railway forms part of a broader plan to develop a 5,000-km plateau rail network by 2035.
Why it matters to India
The route’s proximity to the LAC—especially through Aksai Chin, —gives the project strategic relevance. The area remains sensitive due to past conflicts, including the 1962 war. The G219 highway, which also passes through Aksai Chin, was a key factor in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. The Xinjiang-Tibet Railway is one of four major routes planned to connect Tibet with other Chinese provinces—Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The Qinghai-Tibet line is operational, while the others are under construction. Tibet’s broader infrastructure development includes road, rail, and air connectivity, with high-speed rail lines reaching close to India’s northeastern border, including Arunachal Pradesh, which China also claims.