evidence: The Aksai Chin comprises the western sector of the 2,100-mile disputed Sino-Indian border defined by the LAC. As seen on figure 1, the road and railroad infrastructure in the region is extremely limited, as are the number of airfields. The distances between major cities are great, and transportation is difficult because of the altitude, mountains, rivers, deserts, and climate. The average elevation in the Aksai Chin is some 17,000 feet (over 5,000 meters) above sea level, requiring troops from lower elevations to take days to over a week to acclimate, and frequently requires the use of oxygen while marching or exercising. The altitude and extreme cold also adversely affect the performance of weapons, vehicles, and aircraft.6