Sino-Indian border dispute
Aksai Chin is a high-altitude region of strategic significance, characterized by its extreme environment and sparse population. The terrain stretches from the lowest point along the Karakash River at approximately 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) to towering glaciated peaks that reach up to 22,500 feet (6,900 meters) above sea level. Spanning an area of around 37,244 square kilometers (14,380 square miles), Aksai Chin's inhospitable environment has limited human settlement and development. Historically, its significance lay primarily in its ancient trade routes. These routes served as vital corridors for traders, particularly for caravans consisting of yaks that traveled between Xinjiang and Tibet, primarily during the summer months....