Countering China's Export Curbs on tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), their components, and specialized high-altitude construction equipment

 China's new export controls on tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), their components, and specialized high-altitude construction equipment have exposed a significant vulnerability in India's ongoing effort to strengthen infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

India's Strategic Border Infrastructure Push

Since the 2020 Galwan/Ladakh crisis, India has accelerated the construction of roads, tunnels, railways, and power projects in the Himalayas to improve military mobility and logistics. Key projects include:

• Atal Tunnel
• Sela Tunnel
• Zojila Tunnel
• Shinku La Tunnel
• Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway
• Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project

These projects are crucial for rapidly moving troops, equipment, fuel, and supplies to border areas.

China's New Export Licensing Regime

China has imposed export controls on:

• Tunnel-boring machines (TBMs)
• TBM spare parts and refurbishment technology
• Walking excavators
• High-altitude shotcrete (concrete-spraying) machines
• Specialized equipment designed for operations above 3,000 meters

Chinese firms now need government approval before exporting such equipment to countries involved in territorial disputes with China.

Although India is not specifically named, it clearly fits the category due to the unresolved border dispute.

Why This Matters to India

Many strategic Indian infrastructure projects rely directly or indirectly on equipment manufactured in China.

Even Western companies supplying India, particularly Germany's Herrenknecht, manufacture many TBMs in Chinese factories.

As a result:

• China can delay deliveries.
• China can restrict spare parts.
• China can block refurbishment services.
• China can disrupt future tunnel construction projects.

This gives Beijing a powerful economic and strategic lever.

The Herrenknecht Example

The article highlights the German TBM manufacturer Herrenknecht:

• Its machines are widely used in India's metro, railway, hydroelectric, and bullet train projects.
• Several India-bound Herrenknecht TBMs were reportedly held up by Chinese customs during 2024-25.
• The machines were released only after diplomatic intervention.

The new regulations transform such informal customs delays into a formal, legally backed export-control system.

The Bigger Risk Is Not TBMs Alone

The author argues that attention has focused excessively on TBMs.

The larger concern may be:

• Spare parts
• Cutter heads
• Main drives
• Remanufacturing services
• High-altitude tunnelling equipment

Border tunnels such as Zojila, Sela and Shinku La often use drilling-and-blasting methods rather than TBMs, but they still require specialized mountain-construction machinery that is now potentially subject to Chinese control.

China Is Following a Broader Strategy

These controls are part of a wider Chinese export-control architecture that also covers:

• Rare earths
• Drone components
• Dredger equipment
• Advanced technologies

China is increasingly using economic and technological dependencies as strategic tools, much like the United States has used export controls in recent years.

India the Target

India has an active border dispute with China.India is heavily engaged in Himalayan tunnel construction.China has previously delayed TBM exports to India.

Therefore, the overlap between China's controls and India's infrastructure needs is too significant to ignore.

What India Must Do

A. Map the Dependency

India should identify all Chinese-origin equipment used in:

• Border roads
• Tunnels
• Railways
• Hydropower projects

B. Find Alternatives

India should:

• Diversify suppliers
• Shift procurement to Germany, Europe, Japan, South Korea and domestic manufacturers
• Encourage co-development of specialized equipment

C. Build Resilience

India should:

• Stockpile critical spare parts
• Increase local manufacturing
• Require disclosure of equipment origin in strategic contracts
• Seek diplomatic clarity from China regarding license approvals

Positive Developments

India has already started reducing dependence:

• Direct imports of Chinese tunnelling equipment have sharply declined.
• Herrenknecht's Chennai facility now produces many TBMs locally.
• BEML is exploring indigenous TBM manufacturing.
• The government is considering a $1.2 billion incentive scheme for construction-equipment manufacturing.

 

 Conclusion

China's new export controls have revealed a  vulnerability in India's border infrastructure strategy. While India's military and infrastructure capabilities along the LAC have improved significantly since Galwan, critical projects still depend on machinery, spare parts, and technologies that China can potentially restrict. The challenge for India is not just building tunnels and roads faster, but ensuring that the equipment ecosystem supporting those projects is secure, diversified, and increasingly indigenous.