Taking the high road: India infrastructure drive counters China

China’s renaming of the Indian frontier village of Zemithang, in the disputed region of Arunachal Pradesh, has sparked tension between the two Asian powers. The area remains disputed to this day, and both India and China have launched major construction drives to reinforce their positions. While India has increased its defence capabilities and invested in connectivity projects to boost civilian presence, Beijing has developed “xiaokang”, or well-to-do villages, along the Line of Actual Control, which New Delhi fears could be used for dual purposes in the event of a conflict.