Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s2.3

v2.c13.s2.3

Apart from the air supply route, land-based supply routes between India and China also proved their importance for the War. Even before the Burma Road was cut off, in February 1942 an agreement had been reached between China, the US and Britain to construct an alternative road from India to China. This road (中印公路) was to run from Ledo in India’s Assam to Yunnan’s Tengchong and Longling via Putao and Myitkyina in Burma. Work on this road began in late 1942 in extremely adverse conditions. Over 12,000 Indian labourers were among those involved in the construction. The road, covering a distance of 1,568 km, was finally completed and opened in January 1945 after Myitkyina as well as Tengchong and Longling had been retaken from the Japanese. A slightly longer southern branch of this road starting from Ledo and passing through Myitkyina, Bhamo, Namkhan and Muse was also opened a few days later. The new road was named by Chiang Kai-shek in honour of the American General Joseph Stilwell,