I do not think it was China's plan to open a front on Indian border until it became quite apparent that US might use India to pinch China from this wide while US and allies pinch them from SCS.
According to me China preemptively made the move, moved in with large force to their claim line and dug in to prevent any misfortune in Himalayan theater.
Any significant loss or win atleast in this theater will come at a great cost to both this will prevent any leverage. Deterrence indeed.
China can now focus on SCs more while everyone debates small quarrels here and there in Himalayas.
According to me China preemptively made the move, moved in with large force to their claim line and dug in to prevent any misfortune in Himalayan theater.
Any significant loss or win atleast in this theater will come at a great cost to both this will prevent any leverage. Deterrence indeed.
China can now focus on SCs more while everyone debates small quarrels here and there in Himalayas.
. Unfortunately, someone like the Chinese, who have suffered through some extreme wars in the past century are not afraid of very difficult sacrifice (e.g. 1.5 to 2 million soldiers killed in the Second Sino Japanese War, 200k killed in the Korean War).