Context

• Recently there was a violent face-off between the army troops of India and China in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh region.

The strategic importance of Galwan River Valley:

• The Galwan river is the highest ridgeline and it allows the Chinese to dominate the Shyok route passes, which is close to the river.
• Chinese are keen on controlling this area as they fear that the Indian side could end up threatening their position on the Aksai Chin plateau by using the Galwan river valley.
• India is trying to construct a feeder road emanating from Darbuk-Shyok Village – Daulat Beg Oldie road (DS-DBO road).
• This road runs along the Shyok River and is the most critical line of communications close to Line of Actual Control(LAC).
• Based on satellite imagery, the Chinese had built a road until the middle point of the Galwan valley by 2016. And since then, they have managed to extend this to some point closer to the LAC in the sector.