China on March 11 said it “strongly deplores” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh and has raised concerns with India, a sharp statement that is expected to be rebutted by New Delhi. The Chinese response was to a question from state media about the visit on March 9 by Mr. Modi, where he inaugurated a number of development projects, including the Sela Tunnel, an all-weather strategic link for Tawang and Kameng districts near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Built at a height of 13,000 feet, the 1.5 km Sela Tunnel that operationalised on the weekend is expected to aid development in border villages and allow for quicker deployment of military troops and hardware at the boundary with China, amidst continuing tensions and a four-year stand-off with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
