450 Chinese Border Villages Face India’s Northeast
Indian Army officials say hundreds of Chinese “Xiaokang” villages have emerged along the LAC opposite Arunachal Pradesh, raising strategic concerns over dual-use infrastructure.
NEW DELHI- China has constructed hundreds of so-called “Xiaokang” or “well-off” villages along its border areas facing India, particularly opposite Arunachal Pradesh, according to senior officials of the Indian Army. The development has raised strategic concerns regarding the evolving security dynamics along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), highlighted the issue during a seminar organised by Assam Rifles in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi. The seminar examined emerging security challenges in India’s Northeast region.
According to the Army, China has built around 628 Xiaokang villages along its northern borders over the past two decades. Of these, nearly 72 percent — about 450 villages — are located across from India’s northeastern states.
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Officials noted that almost 90 percent of these villages face Arunachal Pradesh, including areas that remain disputed between the two countries.
While Beijing describes the settlements as part of rural development and poverty alleviation initiatives, Indian security analysts have raised concerns that the villages could serve dual civilian and strategic purposes, including logistical support and enhanced military mobility near the border.
The development has also renewed attention on the strategically important Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal. Often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” the corridor is roughly 22 kilometres wide and about 60 kilometres long, connecting India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country.
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Army officials noted that the corridor’s proximity to the Chumbi Valley in Tibet, near the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, makes it particularly sensitive during periods of geopolitical tension.
In response to the evolving security environment, India has accelerated infrastructure development across the Northeast. Major projects include the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, along with multiple strategic bridges over the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers.
These projects are intended to enhance civilian connectivity while also improving military logistics and mobility in frontier areas.
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The government is also exploring the possibility of underground rail and transport infrastructure in the Siliguri Corridor to improve logistical resilience in the event of a crisis.
Meanwhile, Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, said that while the security situation in the Northeast has improved in recent years, the region continues to face challenges due to its complex terrain, ethnic diversity, and long international borders.
Security analysts say China’s expanding infrastructure along the LAC and India’s parallel push for connectivity projects reflect a growing strategic focus on the Himalayan frontier and the Northeast region, which remains critical for both national security and regional stability.
