The disputed area is above 14,000 feet, snow year around, barren and windy, rivers often flooding, minimal roads.
..........
Let them have at it.
With a pretty difficult supply chain, it’ll be slow attrition.
China wants to break through Indian territory, to run highways and rail lines to Pakistani ports.
Long term, it could also block India’s land routes through the other “stans” to Europe, or Russian oil/gas.
India water source
The land itself is almost beside the point. The Chinese haven’t had a armed confrontation like this one since they faced off against the US/UN & SK forces in Korea. Stone-age toothpick campaigning.