There has been much debate in the past regarding India’s unwillingness to use air power when it fought its war with China in 1962. But India is a much more confident state economically and militarily today. Recently, India has positioned four Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets at Tezpur, in the Northeast. This Indian Air Force base is particularly strategically located; India is expected to position a full squadron comprising of 18 aircraft at this base. A similar squadron might well be placed at one more airfield (Chabua) in the region.

Positioning these multi-role fighters could be said to be one of the important measures taken by India to strengthen its defences against China. A few months back, two old but non-operational airfields — Daulat Beg Oldi and Fuk Che in the Ladakh region — were opened. These are both very close to the line of actual control. India also proposes to operationalise the Neoma Advanced Landing Ground, and may even convert it into a full-fledged runway. Of course, all these airfields are dual-purpose, and could support the tourism sector during peacetime.

Apart from strengthening its air defences India is also planning to put two army divisions, each comprising around 25,000 to 30,000 troops, along with corresponding artillery, medical, signals and engineering support, in the region.

All these Indian moves clearly indicate that India is strengthening its defences, particularly along the Chinese border. Asking why this activity has started “all of a sudden” particularly when no imminent threat appears to be coming from that sector is actually the wrong question; given that for four decades China has built up strategic potential all along the Indian border in some form or other. The right question is why India has started belatedly.

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