Why does Sichuan experience powerful earthquakes?

Sichuan province is located in a highly active seismic zone, which makes it prone to powerful earthquakes.1

The primary cause of this seismic activity is the ongoing northward movement of India against southern Asia. This tectonic pressure forces the mountainous western portion of Sichuan to displace eastward, which in turn compresses the relatively small crustal block that makes up the eastern part of the province. This constant geological stress has resulted in numerous destructive events over the centuries, most notably the severe 2008 earthquake that caused widespread devastation and significant loss of life.12