China opens strategic Tibet highway near Indian border

China has developed Tibet with a string of five airports and rail and road links going up to the Indian border, giving it a strategic advantage in swiftly moving its troops.  At the same time, Beijing apparently has been objecting to similar development taken up by India to beef up infrastructure on its side.



Briefing the media during Singh's visit, India Ambassador S Jaishankar said the BDCA would not come in the way of India developing its border areas and this work would go on.  

The highway was completed after seven failed attempts over the past five decades. China first attempted to build the road in the 1960s, shortly after the 1962 war with India, state media reported.

Significantly the new road connects the last Tibetan county which could not be accessed by road so far.  

The highway connects Bomi county with the main town of Medog county, called “the elusive lotus” in Buddhist sutras.  

The highway, officially opened yesterday, will also improve the lives of Medog's 10,000 people, the report said.