ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 5 (2025)
Gray-zone expansionism: China's strategic use of roads and railways in Tibet under Jinping
Authors
Dr. Namkha Tsering
Abstract
This paper examines China’s infrastructure expansion in the Tibet Autonomous
Region as a strategic instrument of gray-zone statecraft. While officially
framed as development and modernization, the construction of roads, railways,
airports, and digital networks serves dual purposes—facilitating
economic integration while enabling military readiness and coercive
control. Projects such as the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and the Sichuan–Tibet
Railway enhance logistical mobility near contested borders, particularly the
Line of Actual Control with India. Simultaneously, digital surveillance systems
and demographic engineering through Han migration reinforce Beijing’s authority
and dilute Tibetan cultural identity. These developments allow China to incrementally alter facts on the ground,
assert sovereignty, and project influence without triggering open conflict. By
blurring the line between civilian infrastructure and strategic assets, China’s
approach in Tibet exemplifies a sophisticated gray-zone tactic that reshapes
regional dynamics under the guise of peaceful progress.
Download
Pages:20-25
How to cite this article:
Dr. Namkha Tsering "Gray-zone expansionism: China's strategic use of roads and railways in Tibet under Jinping". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 11, Issue 5, 2025, Pages 20-25
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.